I'RTNCETON.  N.  J. 
DivTS 


No.  (Jase,        {^fj 

No.  Shelf,   Sectiay         _ 


Till!  John  M.  Ivrcbs  Donatiou. 


1 


BT  255 

.L67 

1845 

Lord, 

Eleazar,  1788- 

1871 

, 

The  me 

diatorial  work 

of 

our 

Lord 

Jesus 

Christ 

Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2010  witii  funding  from 

Princeton  Tlieological  Seminary  Library 


littp://www.arcliive.org/details/mediatorialworOOIord 


THE 


MEDIATORIAL    ¥ORK 


OUR  LORD  JESUS  CHRIST. 


NEW    YORK: 

ROBERT  CARTER,  58  CANAL  STREET 
AND  PITTSBURG,  56  MARKET  STREET. 

1845. 


CONTENTS. 


Introduction 5 

CHAPTER   I. 

The  Mediatorial  Work  considered  as  comprising  the  Creation  and 

Government  of  all  Creatures 29 

CHAPTER   II. 

The  Mediatorial  Work  characterised  by  Outward  and  Visible 

Manifestations  45 

CHAPTER   III. 

The  Work  of  Christ  considered  as  involving  a  Conflict  with  Satan 

and  the  Powers  of  Darkness 79 

CHAP.    III.— PART   II.  135 

CHAPTER   IV. 

The  Work  of  the  Mediator  considered  as  indicating,  by  the  nature 
and  vastness  of  its  objects,  and  the  events  and  analogies  of  its 
Progress,  the  Visibility  and  Glory  of  His  future  Manifesta- 
tions   170 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  words  Mediation  and  Mediatorial,  are  em- 
ployed in  the  ensuing-  pages,  with  reference  to  the 
office  of  the  Son  of  God,  by  which  He  is  the  medium 
and  agent  of  all  divine  manifestations. 

He  is  contemplated  as  standing  between  the  invisi- 
ble One  and  creatures :  as  bringing  into  existence, 
preserving  and  governing  all  dependent  beings,  and 
as  possessing  in  himself  the  attributes  and  perfections 
which  are  manifested  in  His  works  of  creation,  provi- 
dence and  grace — "the  image  of  the  invisible  God" — 
"  God  manifest  in  flesh." 

In  the  Scriptures,  the  Mediator  is  represented  in 
diflferent  aspects,  as  the  creator  and  upholder  of  the 
dependent  universe,  the  providential  and  moral  gov- 
ernor, the  redeemer  of  lost  men,  the  final  judge  and 
rewarder  ;  as  the  head  and  ruler  of  the  kingdom 
created  by  him,  and  as  accomplishing  by  his  works 
an  outward  and  visible  manifestation  of  the  divine 
perfections,  counsels  and  purposes. 

The  capacities  and  faculties  of  the  souls  of  men, 
their  thoughts,  affections,  purposes  &c.,  are  mani- 
2 


b  INTRODUCTION. 

fested  to  each  other  through  the  instrumentahty  of 
material  bodies,  endowed  with  appropriate  organs 
of  perception. 

The  invisible  things  of  God  are,  in  a  manner, 
somewhat  analagous,  manifested  to  intelligent  crea- 
tures through  the  visible  person  and  works  of  the 
Mehutor. 

In  the  great  scheme  of  manifestation,  or  as  inci- 
dental to  it,  w^as  included,  as  the  unfolding  of  it  has 
shown,  the  existence  of  evil ;  the  apostasy  of  the 
angels  who  rebelled,  and  of  the  human  race  ;  and  a 
triumph  over  that  defection,  in  the  recover}'^  of  a  por- 
tion of  fallen  men,  and  tlie  subjugation  and  punish- 
ment of  all  other  fallen  beings. 

Doubtless  His  chief  object  in  this,  as  in  other  parts 
of  His  mediatorial  work,  was  to  manifest  the  divine 
perfections.  The  salvation  of  a  portion  of  the  human 
race  cannot  be  deemed  to  have  been  the  chief  and 
ultimate  object.  To  suppose  it  to  have  been,  is  no 
more  consistent  than  to  suppose  the  apostacy  of  man 
not  to  have  been  foreseen  at  his  creation,  but  to  have 
been  a  casualty,  an  unexpected  evil,  requiring,  on 
the  score  of  justice  to  creatures,  such  a  reparation  as 
is  effected  by  the  work  of  Christ ;  in  which  case  all 
the  fallen  would  alike  behoove  to  be  saved. 

The  purpose  of  manifestation  required  a  system 
into  which  evil  should  be  admitted.  The  actual 
system  therefore  permitted  the  apostacy  of  the  angels, 
who  fell  and  of  man. 

All  the  fallen  deserve  punishment,  without  respite 
or  mercy ;  and  but  for  the  object  of  divine  manifesta- 
tions, there  could  be  imagined  no  consistent  ground 
for  delay  of  punishment,  or  for  the  ransom  and  re- 
covery of  any  through  the  atonement.     Such  recov- 


INTRODUCTION.  7 

ery  of  a  poi'tion  of  the  human  race,  is  an  incident  in 
the  great  scheme  of  mediation,  not  the  chief  or  ulti- 
mate end  of  it.  In  the  accomplishment  of  that  end, 
the  consequences  of  sin  will  be  superseded  ;  all  ene- 
mies will  be  subdued  ;  the  divine  manifestations  to 
creatures  will  l)e  perfected  ;  and  all  holy  beings  in 
heaven  and  earth,  will  be  brouglit  into  perfect  union 
and  fellowship  with  the  Mediator  as  their  Head. 

The  defective  and  erroneous  views  of  this  subject 
which  prevail  in  the  various  systems  of  theology,  are 
founded  in  the  supposition,  that  the  chief  end  of  the 
mediatorial  work  was  the  salvation  of  a  portion  of 
the  human  race.  This,  instead  of  being  regarded  as 
but  one  branch  of  that  work,  though  in  respect  to  the 
manifestations  to  which  it  gives  occasion  it  may  be 
the  most  important  branch,  is  regarded  as  the  supreme 
and  only  object.  The  work  of  mediation  is  supposed 
to  have  commenced  after  the  fall,  and  to  have  been 
merely  remedial ;  whereas  the  Scriptures  give  it  an 
earlier  date,  as  well  as  a  much  more  comi^reliensive 
range. 

It  is  owing,  perhaps  chiefly,  to  these  defective 
views,  that  the  true  place  and  condition  of  fallen  man 
in  relation  to  the  rest  of  the  universe,  to  the  mediato- 
rial g-overnment,  and  to  the  reasons  and  method  of 
his  recovery,  are  so  partially  apprehended.  His  im- 
portance in  the  scheme  is  erroneously  deemed  to  be 
founded  in  himself,  and  his  lapsed  condition  ;  as  if 
that  condition  were  his  misfortune,  and  had  in  it 
something  of  the  nature  of  a  claim  to  be  redressed. 
To  recover  him,  therefore,  or  to  recover  as  many  of 
the  race  as  possible,  is,  by  those  who  hold  these  re- 
stricted views,  conceived  to  be  the  chief  and  ultimate 


8  INTRODUCTION. 

object  of  the  mediatorial  work  ;  and  that  work  is  sup- 
posed to  be  comprised  in  the  atonement  and  the  bene- 
fits resulting  from  that  interposition. 

Christ  came  indeed  to  save  sinners,  to  redeem  and 
rescue  lost  men  from  sin  and  Satan  ;  to  lay  down  his 
life  a  ransom  for  his  people,  suffering  the  penalty  of 
the  law  in  their  stead  ;  He  did  this  pursuant  to  a  cove- 
nant having  special  reference  to  those  ransomed  by 
Him,  and  in  view  of  a  reward  of  exaltation  and  joyful 
acquisition  of  a  redeemed,  purified  and  justified  peo- 
ple, a  church  united  to  and  glorified  with  him.  State- 
ments like  these  refer  to  one  class  of  facts  in  relation 
to  the  design  and  results  of  his  mission  ;  but  they  do 
not  comprehend  all.  In  the  most  comprehensive  re- 
ferences to  his  work,  we  are  taught  that  he  declared 
or  manifested  the  invisible  God  ;  that  he  created  the 
worlds  ;  that  he  exercises  all  power  in  heaven  and 
earth.  In  another  aspect,  it  is  said  that  he  came  to 
destroy  the  works  of  the  devil. 

"  For  this  purpose  the  Son  of  God  was  manifested, 
that  he  might  destroy  the  works  of  the  devil.  He 
took  part  of  flesh  and  blood,  that  through  death  he 
might  destroy  him  that  had  the  power  of  death,  that 
is  the  devil,  and  deliver  them  who  through  fear  of 
death  were  all  their  life-time  subject  to  bondage. 
That  his  death  really  overcame  that  evil  spirit,  who 
is  styled  the  prince  of  this  world,  was  declared  by  his 
resurrection,  and  by  the  gifts  which  in  fulfillment  of 
his  promise  were  sent  upon  his  apostles  after  his 
ascension." — Hill. 

This  subject  may  be  illustrated  by  an  analogy  be- 
tween the  relations  of  man  to  the  mediatorial  govern- 
ment, considered  as  extending  over  all  creatures,  and 


INTRODUCTION.  9 

the  relations  of  man  in  a  revolted  province  to  the  civil 
government  of  an  empire. 

An  empire  may  be  supposed  to  consist  of  an  hun- 
dred different  provinces  over  which  the  imperial  gov- 
ernment is  equally  and  impartially  exercised.  One 
or  two  of  the  provinces  rebel,  cast  off  their  allegiance, 
enlist  under  another  chief,  are  guilty  of  treason,  and 
are  condemned  by  the  laws  of  tlie  empire.  The  ob- 
jects and  administration  of  the  government  over  the 
other  provinces  remain  undisturbed  ;  but  to  discour- 
age and  prevent  farther  defections,  and  to  manifest 
the  benignity  and  justice  of  the  government,  and  the 
benevolence  of  its  head,  a  course  of  extraordinary 
measures  is  introduced.  The  just  punishment  of  the 
rebels  is  not  instantly  inflicted,  but  it  is  deferred  to 
give  place  to  the  intended  measures,  while  the  final 
and  aggravated  execution  of  it  upon  all  who  persist 
in  rebellion,  is  proclaimed  and  rendered  certain. 
Every  possible  inducement  to  return  to  their  allegi- 
ance is  now  held  out  to  the  rebels.  They  are  treated 
with  extreme  forbearance  and  kindness.  The  exam- 
ple of  those  who  continue  happy  in  their  obedience 
in  the  loyal  provinces,  and  the  fatal  consequences 
to  themselves  of  persevering  in  their  rebellion,  are 
strongly  set  before  them.  A  measure  is  adopted  by 
the  government  by  which,  consistently  with  the  honor 
of  the  law,  the  demands  of  justice,  and  the  well-being 
of  the  empire,  a  free  pardon  may  be  tendered  to  them 
not  only  for  their  original  revolt,  but  for  all  their  sub- 
sequent and  aggravated  acts  of  rebellion.  The  atten- 
tion of  the  whole  empire  is  drawn  to  their  case.  The 
exiraorilinary  condescension,  kindness,  and  perseve- 
rance of  the  government  on  the  one  hand,  and  the 


10  INTRODUCTION. 

unreasonableness,  obstinacy,  and  wickedness  of  ihe 
rebels,  on  the  other,  almost  wholly  absorb  the  atten- 
tion of  the  loyal  provinces  ;  and  while  the  trial  for 
their  recovery  continues,  it  has  the  aspect  of  an  en- 
grossing- and  almost  exclusive  object  of  the  govern- 
ment, as  if  to  reclaim  those  who  had  rebelled,  and 
were  in  a  state  of  enmity,  condemned  and  ruined, 
was  of  more  concern  than  any  thing  in  the  case  of  the 
loyal  and  obedient.  The  character  of  the  govern- 
ment and  its  executive,  as  illustrated  by  the  measures 
adopted  towards  the  rebels,  is  the  subject  of  attentive 
consideration  and  study,  in  contrast  with  tlie  folly, 
wickedness  and  ruin  of  the  guilty  factions.  These 
lessons  of  instruction  and  warning  become  the  more 
impressive  as  the  inefficacy  of  all  that  is  done  for 
the  recovery  of  the  fallen,  is  manifested  ;  and  the 
evil  and  desperate  nature  of  rebellion  is  shown  in  the 
rejection  of  offered  pardon,  and  the  ultimate  overthrow 
and  misery  of  the  unreclaimed. 

In  the  meantime  the  government  is  fulfdling  its 
proper  offices,  and  accomplishing  all  its  high  and  be- 
neficent ends  over  the  peaceful  and  happy  provinces 
of  the  empire  no  less  perfectly  than  if  no  local  disor- 
der had  occurred  within  its  limits  ;  and  when  the  ex- 
traordinary measures  of  forbearance  and  mercy  to  the 
rebels  shall  give  place  to  their  sudden  overthrow  and 
destruction,  the  great  career  of  empire  will  go  for- 
ward throughout  the  entire  dominions  of  the  govern- 
ment, as  steadily  and  happily  as  prior  to  the  revolt ; 
and  with  the  advanta_,e  of  the  lessons  of  wisdom,  and 
the  dissuasivcs  from  evil  to  which  tlie  local  and  tem- 
porary insurrection  had  given  occasion. 

If,  in  view  of  the  overtures  and  measures  of  the 


INTRODUCTION.  11- 

govemment,  here  and  there  an  individual  or  a  family 
of  the  revolted  should  renounce  their  rebellion,  and 
become  lo^^al  and  obedient,  while  the  surrounding 
multitudes  continued  in  their  cnmit}^,  the  case  of  the 
reclaimed  would  be  one  of  extreme  interest  to  the 
government  and  to  the  loyal  portion  of  the  empire. 
It  would  be  seen,  that  in  returning  to  their  duty,  they 
resisted  manifold  temptations  and  adverse  influences  ; 
were  subject  to  reproach  and  persecution  from  the 
bold  and  hardened  rebels  around  them,  professed  their 
allegiance  and  performed  their  duties  at  the  expense 
of  temporal  interests  and  quiet,  and  in  the  midst  of 
hindrances  and  trials.  Their  virtues,  their  principles, 
the  sincerity  of  their  attachment  to  the  rightful  gov- 
ernment, their  fortitude  and  courage,  would  be  seen 
to  be  severely  tried  ;  and  tlie  event  of  their  struggle, 
their  fidelity  and  perseverance  would  be  observed 
with  earnest  sympathy  and  exultation. 

So  in  this  revolted  province  of  the  universe.  The 
apostacy  is  universal,  the  rebellion  malignant  and  des- 
perate. The  most  stupendous  interpositions  and  mea- 
sures have  been  vouchsafed  on  the  part  of  the  Supreme 
Ruler,  which  exhibit  his  character  and  government  in 
a  light  entirely  new,  presenting  an  aspect  of  excel- 
lence and  glory,  which  fixes  upon  this  scene  of  mani- 
festation the  attention  of  the  unfallen  throughout  the 
universe.  Here  is  exhibited  an  outbreak  and  a  con- 
flict on  a  scale,  and  with  relations  and  consequences, 
adapted  to  bring  into  view  the  Divine  perfections,  and 
illustrate  the  principles  of  the  Divine  government,  on 
the  one  hand,  and  the  nature  and  deserts  of  sin  on  the 
other.  The  heavenly  hosts,  secure  in  the  stability 
and  repose  of  the  unfallen  universe,  and  in  the  resist- 


iS  INTRODUCTION. 

less  power  and  wisdom  of  the  mediatorial  administra- 
tion, are  the  earnest  spectators  of  this  scene.  As  the 
scene  of  manifestation,  evolving,  at  every  step,  neAV 
wonders  of  righteousness  and  mercy,  new  aspects  of 
divine  wisdom,  excellence  and  glory — new  contrasts 
of  holiness  and  sin,  happiness  and  misery — it  engrosses 
the  attention  of  terrestrial  and  invisible  beholders. 
The  measures  connected  with  the  suppression  of  this 
revolt,  and  the  developments  and  manifestations  which 
they  occasion,  are  such  as  seem  to  assign  to  them  the 
first  place  among  the  objects  for  which  the  universe 
exists  and  is  governed  ;  and  mortals,  the  apostate 
party,  in  their  blindness  and  pride,  regard  the  scene 
as  exclusively  their  own  ;  as  if  apart  from  any  rela- 
tions of  it  to  the  rest  of  the  universe,  their  case  was 
in  itself  of  sufficient  importance  to  account  for,  nay, 
to  demand  all  this  array  of  measures  and  dispensa- 
tions ;  as  if  their  recovery  and  happiness  was,  in  it- 
self and  for  its  own  sake,  the  most  important  object 
of  the  divine  administration  ;  as  if  the  character  of 
God  and  the  stability  of  his  throne  demanded  it,  and 
therefore  such  a  measure  as  the  incarnation  of  the 
Son  of  God  was  provided  for  ;  as  if  to  regain  their 
favor,  and  win  them  back  to  allegiance,  was  the  single 
purpose  of  all  that  has  been  done  ;  as  if  their  rights 
and  their  cause  as  a  party  placed  them  on  a  level,  or 
gave  them  an  advantage  over  the  rest  of  the  universe. 
Now,  these  false  notions  of  men  have  no  shadow 
even  of  apparent  foundation,  except  in  the  fact  that  a 
respite  has  been  granted,  and  a  dispensation  of  tem- 
poral mercies  and  proffers  of  spiritual  benefits  extend- 
ed to  them.  Had  no  divine  attribute  but  that  of  jus- 
tice been  enlisted  in  the  treatment  of  their  case,  no 


INTRODUCTION.  13 

respite  would  have  taken  place  or  been  possible. 
Punishment  would  have  ensued  upon  the  first  trans- 
gression. Every  consideration  touching  their  guilt, 
and  the  demands  of  law,  forbade  any  delay  of  their 
deserved  and  final  punishment.  But  other  objects, 
higher  purposes,  the  manifestation  of  mercy  in  har- 
mony with  righteousness,  an  illustration  and  exhibi- 
tion to  the  whole  universe  of  all  the  divine  perfections, 
and  a  full  exemplification  of  the  desperate  malignity 
of  sin,  furnished  occasion  for  dela)^,  forbearance, 
respite. 

Ti  e  view  of  this  ajiostate  section  of  the  universe 
which  is  presented  in  the  Scriptures,  and  confirmed 
b}'  the  events  of  Divine  Providence,  comprises  the  fol- 
lowing, among  other  particulars  : 

1.  It  is  in  a  state  of  open  revolt  and  alienation,  a 
state  of  enmity,  opposition  and  rebellion,  against  the 
Supreme  Proprietor  and  ruler  of  the  universe. 

2.  In  tbis  apostacy  and  rebellion  it  is  in  league  with 
the  fallen  angels,  and  with  Satan  as  the  head  and 
leader  of  the  revolt. 

3.  The  guilt  of  the  two  factions  thus  leagued  to- 
gether is  of  the  same  nature,  and  is  such  in  degree 
that  they  are  respectively  condemned  to  the  same 
ultimate  award  and  place  of  punishment. 

4.  That  a  respite  is  granted  to  both. 

5.  That  the  measures  through  which  pardon  is 
offered  are  directed  only  to  fallen  man.  Had  there 
been,  in  the  nature  of  their  apostacy  and  guilt,  any 
foundation  of  claim  to  relief,  it  would  have  availed 
the  fallen  angels  as  well  as  fallen  man.  Relief  is 
tlicrefore  proifercd,  not  on  account  of  any  thing  in 
them  or  in  their  condition,  their  importance  as  a  class 

2* 


14  INTRODUCTION. 

of  beings,  their  numbers  or  their  power  to  do  mischief, 
but  solely  owing-  to  the  good  pleasure  of  God  the  Me- 
diator, in  the  exercise  of  his  sovereignty  and  grace, 
and  in  pursuance  of  his  scheme  of  manifestation. 

6.  That  the  rebellion  is  utterly  hopeless  in  respect 
to  ultimate  success  :  that  the  divine  sovereignty  and 
grace  will  reclaim  and  save  a  portion  of  the  race  of 
man  ;  and  that  the  remainder  will  be  subjected  to  a 
punishment  more  aggravated  than  if  no  respite  had 
been  granted. 

7.  That  this  revolt,  so  far  from  injuring  the  rest  of 
the  universe,  will  in  its  progress,  and  when  ultimately 
crushed  and  superseded,  enhance  and  promote  its 
well-being,  and  redound  to  the  glory  of  the  Mediator. 

8.  That  it  is  in  itself  and  will  in  the  end  be  viewed 
as  an  infraction  of  the  order  and  system  of  the  wide 
empire  of  the  Mediator,  and  is  important  only  as  a 
means  to  an  end  ;  as  affording  an  occasion  of  mani- 
festations of  the  highest  consequence  to  the  rest  of  the 
universe  which  could  not  otherwise  be  made  ;  as  fur_ 
nishing  on  an  adequate  scale  an  opportunity  of  educ- 
ing great  and  general  good  from  partial  evil. 

9.  That  during  the  progress  of  this  revolt  and  the 
respite  granted,  a  scene  of  conflict  is  exhibited.  Satan 
and  his  hosts  and  fallen  men  oppose  the  government 
of  the  Mediator  and  all  the  measures  of  his  mercy  for 
the  recovery  of  any  of  the  human  race.  Those  who 
are  reclaimed  are  subjected  to  a  sharp  and  ceaseless 
conflict,  and  are  objects  of  intense  interest  to  the  Me- 
diator and  his  followers.  They  are  a  spectacle  to  the 
universe.  They  resist  temptation  and  practise  virtue 
and  obedience  in  the  midst  of  trials  and  opposition. 

10.  That  in  the  visitation  of  divine  displeasure  in 


INTRODUCTION.  5 

this  scene,  in  consequence  of  the  apostacy,  the  earth 
was  cursed,  and  the  inferior  creation  subjected  to  op- 
pression and  vanity  ;  and  that  at  length  the  curse  will 
be  removed  and  the  earth  restored  to  its  primitive  state 
of  salubrity  and  beauty. 

These  and  kindred  truths  must  be  understood  in 
their  proper  connection,  in  order  to  a  just  apprehension 
of  the  mediatorial  work.  It  fs  believed  to  be  owing 
to  erroneous  and  defective  views  of  the  apostacy, 'and 
its  results,  in  the  character  and  condition  of  man  and 
the  state  of  the  earth,  that  the  character  and  work  of 
Christ  are  so  little  understood  and  so  extensively  mis- 
apprehended. Such  was  the  case  when  he  appeared 
visibly  on  earth.  He  was  in  the  world  Avhich  he  cre- 
ated, and  the  world  knew  him  not.  He  came  unto 
his  own,  and  his  own  received  him  not. 

The  world  of  idolaters,  infidels  and  unbelievers, 
does  not  acknowledge  him  in  any  respect.  Among 
Christians  and  Protestants  his  work  is  supposed  to 
relate  only  to  the  redemption  and  salvation  of  men,  or 
is  at  least  popularly  contemplated  only  in  that  aspect. 
To  represent  him  as  the  creator,  preserver  and  ruler 
of  the  material  universe  and  of  all  creatures,  and  as 
having  appeared  to  patriarchs  and  prophets,  the  de- 
stroyer of  the  earth  by  water,  and  of  Sodom  by  fire, 
the  lawgiver  and  king  of  Israel,  the  God  of  the  prime- 
val and  Jewish  dispensations,  is  to  take  an  attitude  of 
novelt}',  to  infringe  cherished  associations,  and  incur 
more  or  less  of  doubt  and  suspicion.  Modern  criti- 
cism, with  its  microscopic  vision,  has  done  little  to 
illumine  the  canvas  on  which  his  character  and  works 
are  indicated  in  the  language  and  symbols  of  man. 
It  has  toiled  indeed  with  zeal  and  perseverance,  but 


16  INTRODUCTION. 

toiled  much  as  it  would  in  a  course  of  experiments  in 
a  dungeon  on  the  nature  and  composition  of  light,  to 
determine  the  character  and  uses  of  the  sun. 

A  just  view  of  the  person  and  work  of  the  Mediator, 
as  the  great  theme  of  the  Scriptures,  the  light  by 
which  all  other  subjects  are  there  illuminated,  and 
with  reference  to  which  they  are  treated,  seems  yet  to 
be  wanting.  The  aspect  of  present  and  coming  events 
seeftis  to  demand  enlarged  apprehensions  of  the  ma- 
jesty and  glory  of  the  Mediator,  and  of  the  boundless 
field  of  his  operations,  purposes  and  dominion. 

If,  as  will,  it  is  presumed,  be  admitted  by  all,  there  is 
in  the  Scriptures  no  representation  of  the  Divinity,  by 
words  or  symbols,  as  being  seen,  or  being  visible,  or 
as  personally  and  locally  manifested,  except  in  the 
character  and  person  of  the  Mediator  ;  if  the  dominion 
of  the  Son  of  God  in  this  character  is  universal  and 
everlasting;  if  this  earth  and  its  inhabitants  are  but 
as  the  small  dust  of  the  balance,  compared  with  the 
rest  of  the  dependent  universe  ;  if  the  scene  passing 
here  owes  its  importance  to  the  manifestations  made  in 
the  work  of  redemption,  and  if  these  peculiar  mani- 
festations are  to  be  completed  within  a  limited  period  ; 
if  in  relation  to  the  wide  and  endless  empire  of  the 
Mediator,  they  are  in  all  that  is  peculiar,  as  a  paren- 
thesis, an  episode,  the  removal  of  a  stumbling  block, 
the  suppression  of  a  rebellion  ;  then  the  seeming  dif- 
ficulties which  otherwise  appear  to  arise  from  the  dif- 
ferent appellations  and  works  ascribed  to  the  creator, 
ruler  and  redeemer,  or  the  different  aspects  in  which 
the  God  of  patriarchs,  Jews  and  Gentiles,  the  God  of 
providence  and  grace,  is  revealed,  may  be  seen  to 
have  no  reality.     Christ  as  Mediator  is  the  image  of 


INTRODUCTION.  17 

the  invisible  God.  In  and  by  Him  alone  the  Divinity 
is  made  known.  He  is  the  God  thus  made  known  to 
us  in  the  Scriptures :  God  the  Mediator,  the  Creator, 
providential  Governor,  and  Redeemer  ;  Heir  and  Lord 
of  all.  The  Scriptures  accordingly  represent  him  in 
these  several  aspects  and  olfices,  both  by  symbols  and 
literal  statements,  and  unless  heeded  in  this  respect 
they  may  be  liable  to  seem  confused,  when  different 
aspects  or  offices  are  referred  to  in  the  same  passages 
or  connections. 

If,  in  the  works  of  creation  and  providence,  the 
Mediator  manifests  the  perfections,  counsels,  and 
purposes  of  the  Invisible  One,  material  things,  visible 
objects  in  connection  with  events  and  results,  are  the 
medium,  the  glass,  through  which  creatures  appre- 
hend the  unseen  agency,  and  attain  degrees  of  know- 
ledge of  the  divine  attributes. 

Creatures  in  different  states  differ  in  respect  to  the 
attainment  of  such  knowledge.  Fallen  men,  in  their 
natural  state,  beholding  the  works  of  God,  receive 
impressions  respecting  their  outward  form,  and  all 
that  is  visible  to  the  natural  eye  ;  and  also  respecting 
their  relative  positions,  or  those  relations  which 
reason  assigns  to  them  in  the  system  of  visible 
things. 

Renewed  men,  beholding  the  same  things,  discern 
in  them  the  manifestation  of  divine  power,  wisdom, 
purpose,  and  other  tokens  of  the  presence  and  agency 
of  God.  To  them  they  are  the  shadings  or  screens 
of  ineffable  light.  They  have  perceptions  of  spiritual 
things,  of  lioliness,  righteousness,  benevolence,  jus- 
tice, truth,  faithfulness  ;  of  the  spiritual  excellence, 
beauty  and  glory  of  those  qualities,  as  belonging  to 


18  INTRODUCTION. 

the  Divine  character ;  and  they  discern  them  as  they 
are  manifested  in  the  various  works  and  providences 
of  God.  These  visible  works  are  as  a  mirror,  trans- 
parent, not  to  the  natural  eye,  nor  to  the  intellect  or 
reason,  but  to  the  heart,  the  organ  of  spiritual  discern- 
ment, the  seat  of  emotions,  affections,  and  sympathies, 
which  are  in  harmony  with  the  objects  or  qualities 
spiritually  discerned.  Thus  beholding,  as  in  a  glass, 
the  glory  of  God,  as  it  shines  in  the  face,  the  visible 
appearance  and  works  of  Jesus  Christ,  they  are 
changed  into  the  same  image  from  glory  to  glory. 

This  may,  perhaps,  be  faintly  illustrated,  by  sup- 
posing a  number  of  persons  from  whom  natural  light 
had  been  excluded;  and  whose  first  exercise  of  their 
organs  of  vision  was  that  of  beholding  an  illuminated 
picture  of  various  physical  objects,  placed  in  an  open- 
ing made  in  the  wall  of  their  dungeon  for  the  purpose. 
Their  attention,  probably,  would  be  wholly  occupied 
with  the  colors  and  figures  exhibited  on  the  canvas, 
and  their  position  in  relation  to  eacli  other.  The 
light  beyond  the  picture,  and  by  which  alone  it  was 
rendered  visible,  would  not  enter  into  their  contem- 
plation. Of  its  nature  and  office,  they  would  have 
no  conception.  Their  emotions  and  reflections  would 
terminate  in  the  forms  presented  to  their  view,  and 
their  relative  positions.  Suppose  them  now  to  be  in- 
structed in  all  that  relates  to  light  and  vision,  and 
again  to  look  at  the  picture  in  its  former  position : 
doubtless  their  reflections  would  then  extend  beyond 
the  canvas  to  the  cause  of  its  visibility;  their  emotions 
and  impressions  would  be  widely  different  from  those 
occasioned  by  the  first  experiment ;  and  by  degrees 
they  would  come  to  realize  the  perception  only  of 


INTRODUCTION.  19 

light,  SO  graduated  by  the  shading  of  the  artist's  colors 
as  to  convey  the  desired  impression  of  the  forms  and 
relations  of  objects.  If  a  part  of  them  received  and 
yielded  lo  the  instruction,  while  the  others  wholly 
rejected  it,  and  adhered  to  their  first  notions,  the  re- 
newed exhibition  of  the  picture  would,  in  respect  to 
the  two  classes,  result  differently,  as  in  the  case  of  the 
natural  and  spiritual  man  beholding  the  visible  works 
of  God  ;  the  one  discerning  only  forms  and  relations, 
the  other  discerning,  in  and  through  the  works,  the 
attributes  and  perfections  of  the  Creator. 

The  works  of  Creation  and  Providence  being  adapt- 
ed and  designed  to  serve  as  instruments  in  manifesting 
the  divine  perfections  to  intelligent  creatures,  they  are 
accordingly  endowed  Avith  faculties  adapted  to  this 
mode  of  instruction  ;  the  faculties  of  seeing  the  visible 
works,  hearing  the  audible  voice,  and  stud3ang  the 
revealed  word  of  their  divine  Instructor.  Material 
things,  in  one  form  or  another,  are  the  medium  of 
their  instruction,  the  glass  through  which  they  recog- 
nize the  immaterial  and  invisible. 

The  chief  end  of  man  is  to  glorify  God  and  enjoy 
him  forever.  To  this  end,  the  knowledge  of  God  is 
indispensable  to  him.  This  is  eternal  life,  to  know 
thee  the  only  true  God,  and  Jesus  Christ  whom  thou 
hast  sent.  Love  is  of  God;  and  every  one  thatloveth 
is  born  of  God  and  knoweth  God.  He  that  loveth  not, 
knowcth  not  God  ;  for  God  is  love.  No  man  hath 
seen  God  at  any  time.  If  we  love  one  another,  God 
dwelleth  in  us,  and  his  love  is  perfected  in  us.  We 
know  that  the  Son  of  God  is  come,  and  hath  given  us 
an  understanding,  ihat  we  may  know  him  that  is  true; 


20  INTRODUCTION. 

and  we  are  in  him  that  is  true,  even  in  his  son  Jesus 
Christ.     This  is  the  true  God  and  eternal  life. 

The  holy  scriptures  are  a  record  of  divine  manifesta- 
tions— a  record  of  the  acts,  laws,  predictions,  promises, 
dispensations  and  proceedings  of  the  Mediator,  in  rela- 
tion to  creatures  and  in  connection  with  their  agency. 

If,  with  the  great  purpose  of  manifestation  con- 
stantly in  view,  w^e  trace  this  record  from  the  begin- 
ning, we  shall  find  it  singularly  adapted  to  the  end 
intended,  with  respect  to  those  of  the  human  race  who 
have  been  favored  with  it,  and  as  illustrating  those 
things  into  whicli  the  angels  desire  to  look. 

Let  it  be  observed  that  this  record  was  not  made 
till  about  2500  years  after  the  creation.  The  apostacy 
of  the  race  had  shown  itself  in  the  universal  corrup- 
tion and  wickedness  of  the  generation  which  were 
swept  away  by  the  D::luge,  and  in  the  impious  idola- 
try, depravity  and  vice  of  those  who  succeeded.  The 
life  of  man  had  been  cut  short.  The  race  at  large  had 
become  worshippers  of  idols ;  carried  away  by  the  spirit 
of  rebellion,  they  did  not  like  to  retain  God  in  their 
knowledge :  their  foolish  heart  was  darkened  ;  they 
changed  the  glory  of  God  into  an  image  made  like  to 
corruptible  man,  and  to  birds,  and  four-footed  beasts, 
and  creeping  things — changed  the  truth  of  God  into 
a  lie,  and  worshipped  and  served  the  creature  rather 
than  the  Creator.  Wherefore  God  had  given  them 
up  to  their  chosen  folly  and  wickedness,  and  had  sepa- 
rated Abraham  and  his  descendants,  to  be  preserved 
as  a  distinct  people,  by  an  extraordinary  providence  ; 
to  comprise  the  church,  be  the  recipients  and  deposi- 


INTRODUCTION.  21 

tary  of  divine  revelation,  a  covenant  people,  from 
whom  the  Messiah  was  to  appear  incarnate. 

It  was  among  this  separated  people,  the  descendants 
of  Abraham,  Isaac  and  Jacob,  after  being  greatly  mul- 
tiplied during  a  sojourn  of  fourhundred  years  inEgypt, 
that  Moses  was  raised  up  to  conduct  them  thence  to 
the  land  of  promise  ;  and  under  the  influence  of  inspi- 
ration, to  instruct  them  in  regard  to  the  past  and  the 
future. 

The  record  which  he  has  given  of  the  past  is  very 
brief;  and  it  is  modified,  apparently,  in  respect  to  the 
details  mentioned,  by  the  circumstances  under  which 
he  wrote ;  which,  the  other  nations  being  rejected, 
confined  his  attention  substantially  to  the  church  and 
nation  of  the  Israelites.  The  things  related,  however 
— the  works  of  creation  and  providence  being  regarded 
as  the  works  of  the  Mediator — are  such  as  most  forci- 
bly teach  the  lessons  of  outward  and  visible  manifesta- 
tion to  a  fallen  race,  naturally  devoid  of  knowledge 
and  of  spiritual  discernment,  prone  to  idolatry,  and  in 
bondage  to  sin  and  Satan. 

Concerning  his  retrospective  record  and  the  instruc- 
tions it  gives,  it  will  be  convenient  to  refer  to  the  pe- 
riod (1657  years)  between  the  Creation  and  the  Deluge 
as  an  example. 

Here  the  first  announcement  is  that  of  the  produc- 
tion of  material  and  visible  things ;  of  all  creatures, 
visible  and  invisible  ;  the  creation  of  the  heavens  and 
the  earth,  and  all  their  hosts.  The  narrative  suggests 
several  observations  : 

1.  The  work  of  creation  is  described  in  its  several 
stages,  as  the  objects  and  results  would  have  appeared 


22  INTRODUCTION. 

to  a  spectator,  of  the  human  race,  as  they  successively 
came  withhi  his  view. 

2.  The  statements  emphatically  include  every  kind 
of  creatures  and  objects. 

3.  The  great  principle  of  progenitorship,  representa- 
tion and  imputation  is  disclosed  as  incident  to  the  na- 
ture of  things  in  respect  to  man,  inferior  animals  and 
vegetables.  The  first  of  each  kind  were  created,  from 
which  successors  were  to  proceed  by  a  pervading  and 
permanent  law. 

"  Every  plant  was  created  before  it  was  in  ihe  earth; 
and  the  earth  brought  forth  grass  and  herbs,  yielding 
seed  after  their  kind,  and  the  tree,  yielding  fruit  after 
his  kind,  whose  seed  was  in  itself  after  his  kind.  And 
God  created  every  living  creature  that  moveth,  which 
the  waters  bring  forth  abundantly  after  their  kind, 
and  every  winged  fowl  after  his  kind  ;  and  God  made 
the  beast  of  the  earth  after  his  kind,  and  cattle  after 
their  kind,  and  everything  that  creepeth  after  his  kind. 
And  the  Lord  God  formed  man,  and  breathed  into  his 
nostrils  the  breath  of  life,  and  man  became  a  living 
soul :  male  and  female  created  he  them,  and  blessed 
them;  and  said  unto  them.  Be  fruitful,  and  multiply, 
and  replenish  the  earth." 

This  law  or  constitution,  by  which  the  offspring,  the 
successors,  were  in  respect  to  their  natures,  qualities 
and  characters,  but  the  unfolding  and  development 
of  the  primeval  stock,  the  progenitors,  the  first  of  each 
kind,  and  successively  the  immediate  predecessors  of 
each  reproduction,  was  thus  plainly  taught  as  a  promi- 
nent feature  of  the  entire  system. 

The  principal  things  noted  in  this  period  are : 


INTRODUCTION.  23 

1.  The  creation  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth  ;  of 
all  creatures,  visible  and  invisible. 

2.  The  provision  and  appointment  of  food  for  man. 

3.  The  rite  of  marriage. 

4.  The  use  of  languag-e. 

5.  The  grant  of  dominion  to  Adam  over  the  inferior 
creation. 

6.  The  institution  of  the  Sabbath. 

7.  The  appropriation  of  Eden  for  the  abode  of 
Adam  and  Eve. 

8.  The  rightful  authority  of  God  over  man,  signi- 
fied in  the  prohibition  of  the  tree  of  knowledge. 

9.  The  temptation,  disobedience  and  fall  of  man, 
through  the  subtlety  of  Satan. 

The  serpent,  at  the  time  when  Moses  wrote,  was  a 
chief  object  of  idolatrous  worship,  especially  in  Egypt, 
as  the  recognized  and  familiar  symbol  of  Satan,  and 
representative  of  that  evil  being,  the  prince  of  fallen 
spirits — the  evil  principle,  antagonist  to  the  Messiah. 
The  narrative  accordingly  brings  this  symbol,  the  ser- 
pent, into  view,  while  the  curse  reaches  the  concealed 
adversar}^,  Satan. 

The  mythology  of  the  Persians  and  other  ancient 
nations  every  where  gives  the  serpent  a  prominent 
place.  "  The  devil,  who,  under  the  shape  of  a  serpent, 
tempted  our  first  parents,  has  with  unwearied  applica- 
tion labored  to  deify  that  animal  as  a  trophy  of  his 
victory  over  mankind.  God  having  passed  sentence 
upon  the  serpent,  Satan  consecrates  that  form  in  which 
he  deceived  the  woman,  and  introduces  it  into  the 
world  as  an  object  of  religious  veneration.  This  he 
did  with  a  view  to  enervate  the  force  of  the  divine 
oracle  with  respect  to  the  seed  of  the  woman.  Scarcely 


24  INTRODUCTION. 

a  nation  upon  earth  but  he  has  tempted  to  the  grossest 
idolatry,  and  in  particular  got  himself  to  be  worshipped 
in  the  hideous  form  of  a  serpent." — Owen's  History 
of  the  Serpent. 

10.  The  curse  on  the  serpent  and  on  the  great  ad- 
versary in  his  future  rivalship  and  enmity. 

11.  The  curse  on  Adam  and  Eve  and  their  pos- 
terity, and  on  the  earth. 

12.  The  expulsion  of  Adam  from  Eden. 

13.  The  manifestation  of  the  Mediator  in  the  She- 
kina,  guarding  the  way  of  life. 

Henceforth  the  human  race  constitutes  two  classes  : 
the  true  worshippers  of  Christ,  the  promised  seed  of 
the  woman,  and  the  partisans  of  Satan,  the  seed  of 
the  serpent. 

14.  The  institution  of  sacrifices:  teaching  that  with- 
out shedding  of  blood,  and  faith  in  the  atonement  thus 
typified,  there  was  no  remission  of  sins. 

15.  The  offering  of  Abel  accepted ;  that  of  Cain 
rejected,  as  it  showed  his  unbelief  and  rejection  of  the 
promised  Messiah. 

16.  Cain,  who  was  of  the  wicked  one,  murders  liis 
brother  Abel.  Doubtless  Satan  expected  by  this  means 
to  invalidate  the  promise  respecting  the  woman's  seed 
and  tlie  threatening  against  himself. 

17.  The  translation  of  Enoch  :  attesting  the  exist- 
ence of  another  world. 

18.  The  multiplication  and  universal  corruption  of 
men.     The  earth  filled  with  violence. 

19.  Tlie  building  of  the  ark  :  the  destruction  of  the 
whole  race,  except  Noah  and  his  family,  denounced. 

20.  The  Deluge :  a  signal  manifestation  of  the  riglit- 
eousness,  holiness  and  truth  of  God. 


INTRODUCTION.  25 

Thus  concise  as  the  narrative  is,  it  presents  the  lead- 
ing and  most  important  truths  of  Revelation.  The 
essential  doctrines  and  promises  on  which  the  faith  of 
the  church  rests,  are  inculcated,  in  connection  with  the 
most  striking  outward  and  visible  manifestations.  The 
principal  doctrines,  and  the  typical  import  of  many 
of  the  truths  here  set  forth,  are  in  subsequent  revela- 
tions more  fully  made  known.  These  doctrines  and 
types  were  no  doubt  so  well  known  to  Moses  and  to 
other  holy  men,  in  his  time,  as  to  render  unnecessary 
a  more  full  declaration  of  tliem  in  this  retrospective 
record  ;  and  to  his  successors,  to  whom  more  ample 
disclosures  were  to  be  vouchsafed,  no  more  than  a 
concise  mention  of  them  here  was  called  for. 

It  is  to  be  observed  that  the  revelations  recorded  by 
Moses,  and  subsequently,  were  intended  not  for  the 
idolatrous  nations,  who  rejected  the  knowledge  and 
worship  of  God,  and  gave  themselves  up  to  the  service 
of  the  evil  one,  but  were  intended  for  the  benefit  of 
the  church  and  the  people  among  whom  the  church 
existed.  The  heathen  nations,  the  Gentiles,  were 
given  over,  during  the  Jewish  dispensation,  to  their 
own  chosen  ways  of  rebellion  and  impiety,  exhibiting 
to  the  universe  a  spectacle  of  the  proper  fruits  of  the 
apostacy,  in  the  corruption,  impiety  and  wickedness 
of  men,  and  the  malevolence  and  tyranny  of  Satan. 

For  the  faith  of  the  church,  and  the  enlightening 
of  those  instructed  by  the  church,  these  brief  notices 
were  all  that  the  case  required.  It  was  sufficient  con- 
cisely to  record  the  creation  of  all  things  by  the  word 
of  divine  power  ;  the  social  rights  and  duties  of  man, 
and  his  relations,  obligations  and  duties  towards  God; 
his  temptation  and  fall,  and  the  malignant  agency  of 


26  INTRODUCTION. 

Satan  therein ;  the  curse  clenonnced  upon  that  evil 
being,  upon  man  and  upon  the  earth,  and  the  enmity 
thenceforward  to  exist  l)etween  the  adversary  and  his 
adherents  in  rebellion,  and  the  Messiah  and  his  fol- 
lowers, till  the  mystery  of  iniquity  should  be  ended 
by  the  victory  of  the  promised  seed  over  all  enemies; 
the  visible  appearance  of  the  Mediator,  the  angel  of 
the  covenant,  the  redeemer,  protector  and  avenger  of 
the  church,  in  the  symbol  afterwards  repeatedly  vouch- 
safed to  the  patriarchs,  and  constantly  in  the  view  of 
the  Israelites  in  the  time  of  Moses,  when,  with  a  high 
hand  and  outstretched  arm,  Satan  and  his  Egyptian 
votaries  were  discomfited,  and  the  chosen  people  were 
led  forth  in  triumph,  and  miraculously  sustained  in 
the  wilderness ;  the  institution  of  typical  sacrifices, 
pointing  to  the  great  atonement,  and  requiring  faith 
in  order  to  pardon  and  justification;  the  marked  dif- 
ference between  the  believing  and  the  unbelieving  in 
their  conduct,  as  in  the  case  of  Cain  and  Abel ;  the 
deep  depravity  of  the  natural  heart,  in  the  murder  of 
Abel ;  the  existence  of  an  invisible  world,  and  the 
separate  life  of  the  soul,  in  the  translation  of  Enoch  ; 
the  utter,  hopeless  corruption  of  the  race  in  its  natural 
state,  and  the  righteous  judgment  of  God  in  their  de- 
struction by  the  Deluge  ;  the  divine  sovereignty  and 
covenant  faithfulness  of  God  in  preserving  Noah. 

It  may  be  observed  here,  that  in  the  writings  of 
Moses,  both  with  respect  to  the  then  past  and  the 
future,  the  visible  manifestations  of  the  angel  Jeho- 
vah, the  promised  seed  of  the  woman,  are  recorded  in 
connection  with  the  gradual  disclosure  of  the  scheme 
of  redemption  to  the  patriarchs  and  other  prominent 


INTRODUCTION.  27 

members  and  representatives  of  the  church;  and  the 
line  of  his  descent  is  likewise  clearly  noted  :  First.  In 
general  terms,  as  the  "seed  of  the  woman."  Second. 
Through  the  descendants  of  Shem.  Third.  From 
among  those  descendants,  through  the  separated  fam- 
ily of  Abraham.  Fourth.  From  that  family,  through 
Isaac.  Fifth.  Of  the  sons  of  Isaac,  through  Jacob. 
Sixth.  Of  the  sons  of  Jacob,  through  Judah.  Seventh. 
From  tile  descendants  of  Judah,  through  the  line  of 
David;  the  sceptre  being  restricted  to  his  line  till  Shi. 
loh  should  appear. 


THE 


MEDIATORIAL  WORK  OF  CHRIST. 


CHAPTER   I. 

THE    MEDIATORIAL    WORK     CONSIDERED     AS    COMPRISING    THE 
CREATION    AND    GOVERNMENT    OF    ALL    CREATURES. 

1.  A  Mediator  is  one  who  interposes  between  dif- 
ferent parties. 

There  may  be  such  difference  in  the  nature,  rank, 
or  character  of  the  parties,  as  to  prechide  all  commu- 
nication except  through  a  mediator.  The  office  of  a 
mediator  implies  a  covenant  or  agreement  in  which 
he  is  contemplated  as  the  medium  of  relations  and  in- 
tercourse. 

2.  There  is  nothing  in  the  nature  of  this  office  to 
hinder  one  party  from  binding  himself  by  the  terms  of 
a  covenant  and  appointing  a  mediator,  without  the 
previous  concurrence  or  existence  even,  of  the  other 
party.  He  may  do  it  in  anticipation  of  a  state  of 
things  contemplated  and  provided  for  in  the  covenant; 
especially  if  the  difference  on  account  of  which  a  Me- 
diator is  foreseen  to  be  necessary,  is  a  difference  in  na- 
ture, rank  and  character. 


30  THE     JIEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

3.  Thus  in  the  counsels  of  eternity  the  persons  of 
the  adorable  Trinity  entered  into  a  covenant,  in  virtue 
of  which  the  second  Person  was  appointed  Mediator 
with  reference  to  creatures  to  be  brought  into  exist- 
ence by  him.  He  accepted,  and  undertook  to  fulfil 
all  the  conditions  of  the  appointment.  Psalm  Ixxxix  ; 
Eph.  i ;  Heb.  i.,  ii.,  iii. 

4.  The  work  which  He  undertook,  comprised  the 
bringing"  into  existence,  preserving  and  governing  all 
creatures  visible  and  invisible  :  the  manifestation  of 
the  Divine  perfections  to  intelligent  creatures  ;  the  re- 
demption of  lost  men  ;  the  vanquishment  of  Satan,  and 
subjection  of  all  things  to  himself. 

5.  There  does  not  appear  to  be,  in  the  nature  of 
His  office,  anything  inconsistent  with  such  extent  and 
variety  of  objects,  supposing  them  to  have  been  con- 
templated in  the  counsels  and  covenant  which  were 
to  be  fulfilled.  The  office  of  mediator  as  represented 
in  the  Scriptures,  is  not  restricted  to  the  reconciliation 
by  atonement  or  otherwise,  of  disaffected  parties. 
Thus  Moses,  on  the  occasion  of  a  covenant  being 
made  with  the  Israelites  at  Mount  Sinai :  ''  I  stood 
between  the  Lord  and  you  at  that  time,  to  show  you 
the  word  of  the  Lord  :  for  ye  were  afraid  by  reason  of 
the  fire  and  went  not  up  into  the  mount."  Deut.  v. 
The  Apostle,  referring  to  this  transaction,  Gal.  iii., 
speaks  of  the  part  performed  by  Moses  as  that  of  a 
mediator. 

6.  There  appears  to  be  no  impropriety  in  consider- 
ing the  mediation  of  Christ  as  having  relation  to  holy 


THE      MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  31 

angels.  Their  holiness  can  be  no  objection  ;  since 
their  creation  is  ascribed  to  Him,  and  must  therefore 
have  been  contemplated  in  the  covenant  in  which  His 
official  work  originated.  Doubtless  there  was  that  in 
their  nature  as  creatures,  in  their  relations  to  their 
Creator,  and  in  the  condition  of  tlieir  being  by  which 
they  were  liable  to  apostacy,  which  rendered  His  me- 
diation originally  and  forever  necessary  to  them. 

7.  They  are  accordingly  required  to  worship  Him  : 
they  are  employed  in  executing  the  measures  of  His 
mediatorial  administration  :  they  attend  his  person  ; 
and  join  the  redeemed  of  the  human  race  in  ascrip- 
tions of  glory  to  Him  for  His  official  work,  and  in 
songs  and  doxologies  of  praise  in  view  of  his  victory 
over  the  powers  of  darkness,  and  his  triumphant  reign 
as  mediatorial  King. 

8.  In  harmony  with  this  view,  the  saints  under  the 
Gospel  Dispensation,  are  represented  as  having  come 
into  immediate  relationship  with  the  whole  spiritual 
family  and  kingdom  of  Christ : — the  heavenly  Jeru- 
salem, an  innumerable  company  of  angels,  the  gene- 
ral assembly  and  church  of  the  first  born,  God  the 
Judge  of  all,  the  spirits  of  just  men  made  perfect,  and 
Jesus,  the  Mediator  of  the  New  or  Gospel  Covenant. 

9.  In  the  passage  last  referred  to,  the  privileges  of 
the  saints  under  the  New  Covenant,  are,  for  their 
encouragement,  contrasted  with  those  of  the  Israelites 
under  the  covenant  announced  from  Mount  Sinai. 
This  naturally  involved  a  contrast  between  coming  to 
Jesus  as  the  visible  Mediator  of  the  New,  and  coming 


32  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

to  Moses  as  mediator  of  the  Levitical  covenant ;  but 
can  in  no  wise  be  understood  to  limit  the  extent  or 
bring  into  view  all  the  objects  of  his  mediatorial  work. 
The  words,  "to  God  the  Judge  of  all,"  refer,  it  is 
presumed,  to  Christ,  in  his  character  of  final  judge 
and  rewarder.  The  object  of  the  contrast,  no  less 
than  his  office  in  this  respect,  require  tbis  supposition. 
The  phrase  has  a  wider  signification  than  that  which 
refers  to  him  as  "  Mediator  of  the  New  Covenant :" 
the  latter  contemplates  his  special  relation  to  the 
human  race  ;  the  former  his  mediatorial  dominion  over 
the  whole  universe  of  creatures.  In  the  order  of  the 
particulars  recited,  the  climax  is  inverted. 

10.  The  Scriptures  appear  to  teach  that  the  Divinity, 
absolutely  considered,  can  have  no  relation,  inter- 
course or  connection  with  creatures,  except  through 
an  appropriate  official  medium  ;  that  God  is,  and  ever 
will  be,  absolutely  invisible  ;  and  that  he  is  made 
known  to  creatures  only  by  the  Mediator. — John  i., 
18,  and  vi.,  46  ;  1  Tim.  vi.,  16  ;  Matt,  xi.,  27  ;  Luke 
X.,  22. 

11.  The  Scriptures  announce  the  simultaneous 
creation  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth  and  all  their 
hosts.  The  terms  employed,  in  numerous  instances, 
forbid  the  suj^position  of  any  diversity  of  epochs,  in 
the  manifestation  of  creative  power  in  different  parts 
of  the  universe.  "  Thus  (in  six  days)  the  heavens 
and  the  earth  were  created  and  all  the  host  of  them." 
— Gen.  ii.,  1.  "  This  argues  that  the  angels  belong  to 
the  Mosaic  creation,  who  are  so  often  spoken  of  as 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  33 

God's  Host,  and  as  the  Host  of  heaven." — Edwards, 
Vol.  vi.,  p.  493. 

12.  That  the  mediatorial  work  has  relation  to  other 
worlds ;  that  it  comprises  other  objects  than  the  re- 
demption of  fallen  man:  that  it  comprehends,  indeed, 
all  that  relates  to  creatures,  their  creation,  preserva- 
tion and  government,  is  plainly  taught  in  Scripture. 
"  By  Him  were  all  things  created  that  are  in  heaven 
and  that  are  in  earth,  visible  and  invisible — all  things 
were  created  by  Him  and  for  Him,  and  by  Him  all 
things  consist.  All  things  were  created  by  Him  to 
the  intent,  that  unto  the  principalities  and  powers, 
the  different  orders  of  angels,  in  the  heavenly  regions, 
the  manifold  wisdom  of  God  might  be  made  known 
in  connection  with  the  redemption  and  consummation 
of  the  church.  He  hath  all  power  in  heaven  and 
earth.  To  Him  all  judgment  is  committed.  To  Him 
is  due  the  homage  of  all  creatures.  All  the  angels 
are  required  to  worship  Him.  Angels,  authorities 
and  powers  are  subject  to  Him.  To  Him  every  knee 
shall  bow.  Of  Him,  and  through  Him,  and  to  Him, 
are  all  things." 

13.  From  these  and  passages  of  like  import,  it  is 
evident  that  the  official  work  of  Christ,  comprises  all 
Divine  operations  relating  to  creatures,  whether  ma- 
terial or  spiritual.  "God  is  a  spirit — invisible,  dwel- 
ling in  light  which  no  man  can  approach  unto,  whom 
no  man  hath  seen  nor  can  see.  No  man  hath  seen 
God  at  any  time;  the  only  begotten  Son  hath  declar- 
ed or  manifested  Him.  The  invisible  things  of  Him 
are  clearly  seen  from  the  creation — being  understood 


34  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

by  the  thing's  that  arc  made.  The  heavens  declare 
the  glory  of  God;  the  firmament  showeth  the  work 
of  His  hands.  Day  unto  day  uttercth  speech;  night 
unto  night  showeth  knowledge." 

14.  This  scheme  of  manifestation  in  regard,  espe- 
cially, to  the  wisdom,  holiness,  immutability,  justice 
and  mercy  of  God,  is  executed  chiefly  in  connection 
with  the  redemption  and  consummation  of  the  Church; 
and  a  principal  end  of  the  mediator's  work,  considered 
in  this  relation,  is  that  of  uniting  in  Him  all  holy 
creatures  in  heaven  and  earth. — Eph.  i.  He  instructs 
by  outward,  visible  and  audible  manifestations;  and 

mparts  spiritual  light  and  knowledge  of  the  Divine 
perfections,  by  shining  in  the  heart,  so  that  those  who 
are  illuminated  in  this  manner,  behold  the  glory  of 
God  in  Him,  as  in  a  glass  reflecting,  or  an  image 
representing  the  invisible  one. 

15.  With  reference  to  the  entire  work  of  creation, 
providence  and  grace,  as  delegated  to  Him,  the  Son 
of  God  is  invested  with  all  power,  lordship  and  do- 
minion, as  Mediator.  In  Him,  in  this  character, 
dwells  the  fullness  of  the  Godhead. 

16.  In  the  first  chapter  of  the  Epistle  to  the  Colos- 
sians,  the  inspired  writer,  after  ascribing  to  Christ  the 
creation  of  all  things  visible  and  invisible  in  heaven 
and  earth,  and  declaring  that  he  is  before  all  things, 
and  that  by  him  all  things  subsist,  adds  that  it  pleased 
the  Father  that  all  fullness  should  dwell  in  him,  and 
by  him  to  reconcile  to  himself  all  things  in  heaven 
and  earth,  having  made  peace   by  the  blood  of  his 


THE     MEDIATORIAL    WORK.  35 

cross:  as  though  the  exhibition  made  in  his  crucifix- 
ion had  relation  to  all  accountable  creatures  within 
the  wide  empire  of  moral  government,  procuring-  for 
the  hosts  of  the  unfallen,  exemption  from  temptation, 
confirmation  in  holiness  and  union  with  him  as  their 
preserver  and  head;  and  laying-  the  foundation  of 
respite  to  the  fallen  angels  and  the  human  race. 

17.  ''God  would  have  his  eternal  Son  to  be  incar- 
nate, to  take  our  nature  on  him,  to  be  made  man. 
What  is  his  design  in  this  incomprehensible  work  of 
his  wisdom,  love  and  power?  Indeed,  in  the  first 
place,  it  was  for  the  redemption  of  the  Church,  by  the 
sacrifice  of  himself,  and  other  acts  of  his  mediation. 
But  there  is  that  which  is  more  general  and  compre- 
hensive, and  wherein  all  the  concerns  of  the  glory  of 
God  do  centre;  and  this  was,  that  he  might  gather  all 
things  into  one  in  him,  that  the  whole  creation,  espe- 
cially that  which  was  to  be  eternally  blessed,  should 
have  a  new  head  given  unto  it  for  its  sustentation, 
preservation,  order,  honor  and  safety.  All  springs 
are  in  him,  and  all  stieams  are  unto  him,  and  in  and 
by  him  unto  God.  Who  can  express  the  Divine 
beauty,  order  and  harmony  of  all  things,  that  are  in 
this  their  recapitulation  in  Christ?  The  union,  and 
communion  between  angels  and  men,  the  order  of 
the  whole  family  in  heaven  and  earth,  the  communi- 
cation of  life,  grace,  powder,  mercy  and  consolation  to 
the  church,  the  rule  and  disposal  of  all  things  unto 
the  glory  of  God,  do  all  depend  hereon. 

"There  is  no  contemplation  of  the  glory  of  Christ, 
that  ought  more  to  affect  the  hearts  of  them  that  do 
believe,  vath  delight  and  joy,  than  this  of  the  recapitu- 


36  THE     MEDIATORIAL     AVORK. 

lation  of  all  things  in  him.  One  view  by  faith  of  him 
in  the  place  of  God,  as  the  Supreme  Head  of  the 
whole  creation,  moving,  acting,  guiding  and  dis- 
posing of  it,  will  bring  in  spiritual  refreshment  unto 
a  believing  soul. 

"Did  we  live  more  in  the  contemplation  of  this 
glory  of  Christ,  and  of  the  wisdom  of  God  in  this 
recapitulation  of  all  things  in  him,  there  is  not  any 
thing  of  our  duty  which  it  would  not  mind  us  of,  nor 
any  thing  of  privilege  which  it  would  not  give  us  a 
sense  of,  as  might  easily  be  demonstrated. 

"In  particular  the  Lord  Christ  is  glorious  herein, 
in  that  the  whole  breach  made  on  the  glory  of  God 
in  the  creation  by  the  entrance  of  sin,  is  hereby  re- 
paired and  made  up." — Owen  on  the  Glory  of  Christy 
Chap.  XL 

18.  He  possessed  with  the  Father  the  glory  of  the 
Godhead  before  the  world  was.  As  God,  he  was  eter- 
nal and  unchangeable  in  his  being,  wisdom,  power, 
holiness,  justice,  goodness  and  truth.  When  these 
perfections  were  to  be  made  known  in  the  works  of 
creation,  providence  and  redemption,  He  undertook, 
as  Mediator,  to  manifest  them.  All  things  were  de- 
livered or  referred  to  him.  He  was  appointed  and 
declared  heir  of  all  things  ;  and  is,  in  his  official  work, 
to  be  contemplated  as  the  author,  bestower  and  me- 
dium of  all  divine  communications  to  creatures,  and 
all  intercourse,  communion  and  fellowship  of  holy 
creatures  with  God. 

19.  The  Divine  Being  is  represented  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Scripture  in  various  aspects  and  by  a  variety 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  37 

of  names,  titles  and  designations  of  character,  rela- 
tions, offices,  attributes  and  operations. 

20.  These  names,  titles  and  designations,  though 
generally  so  appropriated  as  to  distinguish  the  persons 
of  the  Godhead,  and  their  official  and  covenant  acts 
and  relations  respectively,  from  the  one  God,  abso- 
lutely considered,  are  in  numerous  instances  applied 
indiscriminately  to  the  Father,  the  Son  and  the  Holy 
Spirit. 

21.  This  usage,  so  far  from  being  in  conflict  with 
anything  taught  in  passages  which  indicate  personal 
acts  or  relations,  sustains  and  confirms  their  restricted 
meaning. 

22.  The  Divinity  is  one,  possessed  of  all  possible 
perfections ;  but  the  Godhead  exists  in  three  distinct 
persons.  The  perfections  of  the  one  Divine  Being 
reside  equally  in  the  three  persons.  To  each  of  them, 
separately  or  personally,  all  divine  perfections  belong 
and  are  properly  ascribed.  The  acts  of  each  person 
are  therefore  in  reality,  and  as  represented  in  the  lan- 
guage of  Scripture,  the  acts  of  God. 

23.  Considered,  then,  with  respect  to  the  counsels, 
purposes  and  acts  or  operations  of  God,  as  represented 
in  the  scriptures  and  manifested  in  the  \vorks  of  crea- 
tion, providence,  and  redemption,  it  is  proper  to  say: 
that  all  the  acts  of  the  Father,  in  covenanting  with 
the  Son,  appointing  and  investing  him  with  all  power 
as  Mediator,  and  rewarding  his  humiliation,  vicarious 
sufferings,  and  victory  over  the  apostate  faction ;  and 

3* 


38  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

all  the  acts  of  the  Son,  in  his  mediatorial  work;  and 
all  the  acts  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  in  his  official  agency, 
each  and  alike  proceed  from  and  express  the  will  of 
the  Godhead.  They  are  each  and  all  properly  and 
equally  divine  acts.  "  Whenever  Christ,  in  the  capa- 
city of  Mediator,  addresses  the  Father,  he  compre- 
hends, under  the  name  of  God,  the  divinity  which 
belongs  also  to  himself." — Calvin,  Book  /.,  Cap.  xiii., 
§26. 

24.  Those  acts,  therefore,  which,  in  some  passages 
of  Scripture,  are  ascribed  to  God,  and  in  others  to  the 
Mediator,  are  to  be  contemplated  as  Divine  acts,  per- 
formed by  Him  in  his  official  character.  Thus:  "In 
the  beginning  God  created  the  heavens  and  the  earth." 
"By  Him,  the  Mediator,  were  all  things  created." 
"  God,  who  in  time  past  spake  to  the  Fathers  by  the 
prophets,  hath  in  these  last  days  spoken  unto  us  by 
his  (SoTi."  "The  prophets  searched  diligently  what 
the  Spirit  of  Christ,  which  was  in  them,  did  signif3\" 
"When  the  Spirit  of  Truth  is  come.  He  will  guide 
you  into  all  truth.  He  shall  receive  of  inine,  and 
shall  show  it  unto  you.  All  things  that  the  Father 
hath  are  mine;  therefore  said  I,  He  shall  take  of  mine, 
and  shall  show  it  unto  you." 

25.  Practically,  this  usage  of  Scripture  is  a  preserv- 
ative from  error.  It  habituates  the  mind  to  ascribe 
all  divine  acts  to  God,  while  it  does  not  hinder  a  proper 
discrimination  of  the  respective  personal  and  official 
acts  and  relations. 

26.  Thus  in  the  worship  of  God:  The  Father,  the 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  39 

Son,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  are  worshipped  as  distinct 
persons,  only  as  viewed  in  their  respective  covenant 
or  official  relations. 

27.  The  Divinity,  absolutely  considered,  and  by 
whatever  name,  title  or  designation  indicated,  is  wor- 
shipped through  the  Mediator,  and  as  manifested  by 
Him.  The  existence  and  glorious  perfections  of  that 
invisible  Being  are  realized  to  the  mind  by  faith  in  the 
manifestations  made  by  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

28.  "There  is  one  God,  and  one  Mediator  between 
God  and  man,  the  man  Christ  Jesus." — 1  Tim.  ii., 
"  There  is  one  God,  of  whom  are  all  things,  and  one 
Lord  Jesus  Christ,  by  whom  are  all  things." — 1  Cor. 
viii.  "By  him  (who  superseded  the  Levitical  priest- 
hood) we  draw  nigh  unto  God :  and  by  virtue  of  his 
eternal  priesthood,  he  is  able  to  save  all  who  come 
unto  God  by  him." — Heb.  vii.  "By  him,  therefore, 
let  us  offer  the  sacrifice  of  praise  to  God  continually; 
that  is,  the  fruit  of  our  lips,  giving  thanks  to  his 
name." — Heb.  xiii.  "  Through  him  we  have  access 
unto  the  Father." — Eph.  ii.  "  If  any  man  speak, 
let  him  speak  as  the  oracles  of  God;  if  any  man 
minister,  let  him  do  it  as  of  the  ability  which  God 
givetb ;  that  God  in  all  things  may  be  glorified 
through  Jesus  Christ." — 1  Pet.  iv. 

29.  Of  the  worship  of  Christ,  the  examples  and 
injunctions  are  numerous.  He  constantly  received 
the  worship  of  his  disciples  while  on  earth.  The 
Apostles,  when  selecting  one  to  complete  their  num- 
ber, addressed  their  prayer  to  him.     Stephen  prayed 


40  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

to  him  to  receive  his  spirit.     The  angels  and  saints  in 
heaven  worship  him. 

30.  The  Holy  Spirit  works  inwardly  in  the  minds 
of  men;  enlightens,  changes,  sanctifies;  renders  effect- 
ual to  their  conversion,  sanctification  and  perseverance 
the  truths  manifested  and  the  benefits  purchased  by 
Christ.  His  operations  are  graciously  vouchsafed, 
solely  on  account  of  the  mediation,  sacrifice  and  inter- 
cession of  Christ.  His  official  work  may  be  termed 
subjective;  not  originating  or  procuring,  but  applying 
benefits. 

31.  Hence,  in  respect  to  acts  of  worship,  the  pecu- 
liarity, frequently  indicated  in  the  Scriptures,  occa- 
sioned l)y  the  peculiar  office  and  agency  of  the  Spirit. 
The  saints  worship  God  in  the  Spirit;  they  pray  in 
the  Spirit;  they  rejoice  and  sing  in  the  Spirit.  They 
have  fellowship  with  the  Father  and  the  Son,  caused 
by  his  indwelling  influence;  but  they  are  no  where 
said  to  have  fellowship  with  the  Spirit.  The  Father 
and  the  Son  are  in  these  exercises,  objective  to  the 
mind,  in  their  official  relations.  He  is  in  or  with  the 
mind.  It  is  by  His  official  agency  that  all  holy  acts 
and  exercises  are  induced;  while  it  is  only  in  such 
relations  as  make  the  Spirit  objective  to  the  mind, 
that  He  is  personally  worshipped.  Thus,  in  all  the 
doxologies  to  the  ever-blessed  Trinity,  equal  and  un- 
divided homage  and  praise  are  ascribed  to  the  Father, 
the  Son  and  the  Holy  Spirit.  So  likewise  in  the  for- 
mularies of  baptism. 

32.  Fellowship  with  the  Father  and  the  Son,  as 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  41 

represented  1  John  i.,  signifies  that  the  saints,  being 
worshippers  of  the  one  true  God,  through  Christ,  and 
receiving  by  his  mediation  the  blessings  of  pardon  and 
salvation,  do  in  their  spiritual  experience,  their  faith 
and  hope,  their  worship,  prayers  and  praises,  partici- 
pate in  all  the  gifts,  privileges  and  benefits  which,  in 
the  economy  of  grace,  are  derived  from  the  Father 
and  the  Son. 

33.  Fellowship  with  the  Father  results  from  adop- 
tion; with  the  Son,  from  union  to  him  by  faith;  and 
springs  from  a  mutual  likeness  and  harmony  of  will, 
affections  and  designs,  which  are  wrought  in  the  soul 
by  the  Holy  Spirit.  He  that  is  joined  to  the  Lord  is 
one  spirit.  The  phrase,  ''If  there  be  any  fellowship 
of  the  Spirit,"  (Phil,  ii.,  1,)  imports  a  fellowship  or 
joint-participation  in  the  effects  wrought  in  the  soul 
by  the  Holy  Spirit,  producing  a  fellow-feeling  and 
mutual  sympathy  among  the  disciples  of  Christ  in 
their  sufferings  and  their  joys. 

34.  The  heathen  fellowships  were  associations  of 
men,  united  by  a  common  sympathy  or  for  secret  pur- 
poses, who  agreed  in  choosing  the  same  object  of  idol- 
atry, which  they  regarded  as  the  head  of  their  society 
and  author  of  the  benefits  which  they,  as  fellow- wor- 
shippers, expected  jointly  to  participate.  From  the 
example  of  such  fellowships,  the  Romish  Sodalities 
were  copied. 

35.  The  late  Dr.  Hill,  in  his  Lectures  on  Divinity, 
chap,  iv.,  presents  a  lengthened  critical  examination 
of  the  principal    passages   of   the   New  Testament 


42  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

which  expressly  declare  that  Jesus  is  the  Creator,  viz : 
John  i.,  1 — 18;  Colos.  i.,  15 — 18;  Heb.  i.  His  expo- 
sitions of  these,  and  references  to  other  passages,  leave 
no  room  to  doubt  but  that  the  apparent  is  the  real 
meaning  of  these  portions  of  Scripture.  In  the  con- 
clusion, he  observes:  "When  you  take  the  language 
of  the  Old  Testament,  which  makes  creation  the  work 
of  the  true  God,  and  the  language  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, where  creation  is  ascribed  to  Jesus,  you  discover 
the  traces  of  a  system  which  reconciles  the  apparent 
discordance.  Jesus  Christ  is  essentially  God,  always 
with  the  Father,  united  with  him  in  nature,  in  perfec- 
tions, in  counsel  and  in  operations.  '  Whatsoever 
things  the  Father  doth,  these  also  doth  the  Son  like- 
wise.' The  Father  acts  by  the  Son,  and  the  Son,  in 
creating  the  world,  displayed  that  power  and  Godhead 
which  from  eternity  resided  in  him.  This  system  is 
delivered  in  the  earliest  Christian  writers,"  etc. — 
p.  280. 

36.  In  the  succeeding  chapter,  the  fifth,  he  in  like 
manner  shows  that  the  same  Divine  Person  is  the  pre- 
server of  all  things;  and  that  to  Him  the  Scriptures  as- 
cribe the  entire  works  of  Providence.  Upon  the  inti- 
mations of  Scripture  to  this  effect  "  is  founded,"  he  ob- 
serves, "  an  opinion  which,  since  the  days  of  the  Apos- 
tles, has  been  held  by  almost  every  Christian  writer  who 
admits  the  pre-existence  of  Jesus,  that  he  who  in  the 
fulness  of  time  was  made  flesh,  appeared  to  the  patri- 
archs, gave  the  law  from  Mount  Sinai,  spake  by  the 
prophets,  and  maintained  the  whole  of  that  inter- 
course with  mankind,  which  is  recorded  in  the  Old 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  43 

Testament  as  preparatory  to  the  coming  of  the  Mes- 
siah." 

37.  He  accordingly  proceeds  to  exhibit  the  evidence 
of  Scripture  in  support  of  this  opinion,  and  particularly 
to  show  that  all  the  appearances  recorded  in  the  Old 
Testament  of  one  called  Angel,  and  God,  were  per- 
sonal appearances  of  Christ,  the  creator  and  governor 
of  all  creatures.  At  the  close  of  this  discussion  he 
observes,  "  All  these  particulars  laid  together  consti- 
tute an  evidence  which  appears  to  be  satisfactory,  that 
Jesus  Christ  is  the  person  who  appeared  to  the  patri- 
archs, and  gave  the  law  from  Mount  Sinai ;  who  was 
worshipped  in  tlie  Temple  of  Jerusalem,  and  who  was 
announced  by  the  prophets  as  the  author  of  a  new  dis- 
pensation."— p.  299. 

38.  "  The  general  principles,"  he  observes  again, 
"of  the  opinion — that  He  who  in  the  fullness  of  time  was 
made  flesh,  appeared  to  the  patriarchs,  &c.,  are  these  : 
God  the  Father  is  represented  in  Scripture  as  '  invisi- 
ble, whom  no  man  hath  seen  at  any  time.'  But  it  is 
often  said  in  the  Old  Testament,  that  the  patriarchs, 
the  prophets,  and  the  people,  saw  God ;  and  there  is 
an  case,  a  familiarity  of  intercourse  in  many  of  the 
scenes  which  are  recorded,  inconsistent  with  the  awful 
majesty  of  Him  who  covereth  himself  with  thick 
clouds.  The  God  of  Israel,  whom  the  people  saw, 
is  often  called  an  angel,  i.  e.,  a  person  sent;  there- 
fore he  cannot  be  God  the  Father,  for  it  is  impossible 
that  the  Father  should  be  sent  by  any  one.  But  he 
is  also  called  Jehovah.  The  highest  titles,  the  most 
exalted  actions,  and  the  most  entire  reverence,  are 


44  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

appropriated  to  him.  Therefore  he  cannot  be  a  being 
of  an  inferior  order.  And  the  only  method  in  which 
we  can  reconcile  the  seeming  discordance  is,  by  sup- 
posing that  he  is  the  Son  of  God — who  being  at  a  par- 
ticular time  '  made  flesh,'  and  so  manifested  in  the 
human  nature,  may  be  conceived  without  irreverence, 
to  have  manifested  himself  at  former  times  in  differ- 
ent ways."— pp.  282,  283. 


CHAPTER   II. 

THE  MEDIATORIAL   WORK    CHARACTERIZED    BY  OUTWARD  AND 
VISIBLE     MANIFESTATIONS. 

1.  This  work  contemplated  as  embracing  the  crea- 
tion, preservation  and  government  of  all  creatures, 
and  as  having  for  its  object  the  manifestation  of  the 
Divine  counsels  and  perfections,  is  in  its  nature  exter- 
nal and  visible;  and  our  knowledge  of  it  results  from 
those  operations  of  the  Mediator  which  are  objective 
to  our  apprehensions :  we  behold  the  visible  works  of 
his  hand  in  the  material  creation,  we  hear  his  voice 
in  his  word,  and  witness  the  results  of  his  agency  in 
preserving  and  governing  the  dependent  universe. 

2.  His  adoption  of  this  method  warrants  the  as- 
sumption that  created  minds,  whether  angels  or  men, 
were,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  not  more  incapable  of 
omniscience,  than  of  acquiring  a  knowledge  of  the 
Divine  perfections,  except  as  they  were  manifested 
by  acts  and  results,  operations  and  effects,  so  brought 
within  their  observation  as  to  be  properly  character- 
ized as  visible,  or  cognizable  to  their  external  percep- 
tions, or  their  consciousness. 

3.  The  fact  that  innumerable  material  worlds  have 
been  created,  is  evidence  enough  that  outward,  visible, 
tangible  or  otherwise  perceptible  subsistences  distinct 


46  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

and  diverse  in  nature  from  mind,  were  necessary  as 
a  medium  of  Divine  manifestations  to  rational  crea- 
tures ;  that  the  existence  and  conditions  of  matter 
were  necessary  on  account  of  the  mode  in  which,  from 
their  nature  and  their  limited  faculties,  rational  crea- 
tures could  alone  receive  or  attain  any  knowledge  of 
the  Divine  perfections. 

4.  Accordingly  the  Apostle  argues,  that  as  no  man 
knows  the  thoughts,  feelings,  desires  or  purposes,  of 
another's  mind,  except  so  far  as  he  makes  them  known 
by  words  or  acts  within  the  observation  or  perception 
of  others :  so  the  things  of  God,  his  perfections  and 
purposes,  cannot  be  known  unless  manifested  by 
audible  revelation,  or  in  other  ways  suited  to  man's 
capacities  and  modes  of  apprehension. 

5.  Hence,  if  intelligent  creatures  were  to  be  brought 
into  existence,  and  if  it  was  to  be  the  chief  end  of 
their  existence  that  they  should  glorify  and  enjoy 
God,  and  if  from  their  nature  as  created,  finite  and 
dependent  beings,  they  could  not  intuitively  or  by 
virtue  of  any  faculties  of  created  moral  agents,  per- 
ceive or  learn  any  thing  of  the  Invisible  One,  without 
the  accompaniment  of  an  outward  and  visible  ma- 
chinery suited  to  their  natures  as  intelligent  creatures, 
as  a  telescope  is  suited  to  the  material  organ  of  vision, 
then  the  co-existence  and  conditions  of  the  material 
creation  were  necessary  to  the  end. 

6.  This  necessity  may  be  illustrated  by  supposing 
that  after  the  work  of  creation  no  apostacy  of  angels 
or  men  had  taken  place,  and  consequently  that  no 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  47 

moral  evil^  nor  any  of  its  attendant  circumstances  or 
consequences  had  entered  into  the  system.  In  that 
case,  the  eternal  power  and  Godhead  of  the  invisible 
Creator  would  be  manifested  by  the  things  which  he 
had  made;  but  his  moral  attributes  would  be,  if  at  all, 
but  very  slightly  and  doubtfully  indicated.  Immuta- 
bility, perfect  holiness,  justice,  goodness,  and  other 
divine  perfections,  which  are  exhibited  only  by  acts 
and  results  of  acts,  declarations,  promises  and  threat- 
enings,  would  find  no  place  of  manifestation  in  such 
a  state  of  things. 

7.  No  declaration  or  description  of  these  perfections 
by  revelation,  oral  or  written,  or  in  any  manner  ana- 
logous to  that  of  human  language,  or  in  any  other 
manner  than  by  such  acts  and  results  as  have  taken 
place  under  the  present  system,  could  possibly  convey 
any  just  or  adequate  notion  of  them.  The  character 
and  glory  of  God,  which  they  so  largely  constitute, 
would  therefore  remain  essentially  unknown.  Crea- 
ted intelligences,  should  such  a  revelation  be  vouch- 
safed to  them,  would  be  aided  in  their  attempts  to 
understand  it,  and  their  conceptions  of  the  things  de- 
clared, by  no  prototypes,  examples  or  analogies  within 
their  own  experience  or  observation.  Neither  words 
nor  symbols  would,  in  such  a  case,  be  of  any  signifi- 
cance. Having  no  capacity  or  power  to  discern  the 
thoughts  or  feelings  of  each  other,  any  farther  than 
they  were  externally  manifested  in  some  way  intelli- 
gible to  them;  they  surely  could  not  discern  the 
qualities,  thoughts  or  affections  of  the  Divine  Mind. 
To  suppose  they  could,  would  be  to  siippose  them 


48  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

able  to  compiehend  that  Mind,  or  to  be  omniscient 
and  infinite. 

8.  It  is  in  the  nature  of  things  that  creatures  should 
be  incapable  of  any  direct  or  immediate  perception  or 
discernment  of  the  qualities  or  perfections  of  the 
Divine  Mind.  All  their  knowledge  of  the  invisible 
Divinity  is,  and  ever  must  be  derived — the  result  of 
analogy  and  inference.  That  condition  of  their  being, 
which  renders  their  perceptions  and  ideas,  or  thoughts, 
successive  in  the  order  of  time,  precludes  them  from 
any  direct  apprehension  of  a  being  in  whom  no  such 
condition  exists,  and  who  is  in  all  respects  infinite. 

9.  To  manifest  the  perfections  and  thoughts  of  such 
a  Being  to  creatures,  therefore,  required  the  existence 
and  relations  of  material  things,  and  such  a  course  of 
outward  and  visible  acts  and  events  as  has  been  exhi- 
bited by  the  Mediator.  It  is  in  the  observation  and 
experience  of  men  in  their  relations  to  one  another 
and  to  material  things,  that  the  symbols  and  analogies 
are  furnished,  by  which  they  are  enabled  to  under- 
stand the  language  of  revelation  respecting  invisible 
and  spiritual  objects. 

10.  From  the  same  necessary  condition  of  created 
beings,  it  results  that  their  knowledge  is  progressive. 
This  holds  as  well  in  respect  to  angels  as  men,  and 
equally  with  respect  to  physical  and  spiritual  objects. 
But  this  forbids  the  supposition  of  their  receiving  any 
knowledge  of  the  Divine  Being  by  direct  or  imme- 
diate apprehension,  or  in  any  other  way  but  by  man- 
ifestation in  acts,  &.C.,  adapted  to  their  modes  of  per- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  49 

ception.  They  can  know  the  faculties  and  (lisposi- 
tions  of  each  others  minds  in  no  otlier  way  ;  much 
less  the  perfections  of  the  Divine  Mind.  If  they 
could  know  each  others  minds,  or  the  Divine  mind, 
by  direct  inspection  or  apprehension,  their  knowledge 
would  not  be  progressive,  but  instantaneous.  They 
would  at  once  comprehend  the  objects  of  their  atten- 
tion. 

11.  Hence  the  otherwise  unaccountable  interposi- 
tion of  second  causes,  outward  and  visible  instrumen- 
talities in  the  operations  of  Divine  Providence  and 
grace.  In  all  except  the  original  creation,  or  the 
exercise  of  creative  power  in  changing  the  natiu-e 
of  things,  such  instrumentalities  are  employed.  The 
Invisible  One  thus  manifests  himself.  Throughout 
all  the  realms  of  nature,  and  in  all  the  relations  and 
experience  of  dependent  moral  beings,  this  beautiful 
and  wondrous  system  of  instrumentalities  prevails. 

12.  It  is  abundantly  evident,  both  from  reason  and 
scripture,  that  the  ultimate  end  of  the  works  of  crea- 
tion and  Providence,  was  to  glorify  God  by  the  mani- 
ifestations  of  his  perfections,  and  the  emanations  of 
his  goodness  to  creatures.  This  is  therefore  constantly 
held  up  to  view  in  the  inspired  records,  with  reference 
to  the  works  of  creation,  the  work  of  redemption, 
the  Divine  dispensations  to  particular  individuals  and 
families  and  nations,  and  the  object  to  be  desired  and 
pursued  by  all  holy  creatures. 

13.  Hence  we  rea^  in  Psalm  xix.,  that  "  the  hea- 
vens declare  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  firmament 


50  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

showeth  his  handiwork.  Day  unto  day  uttereth 
speech,  and  night  unto  night  showeth  knowledge. 
There  is  no  speech  nor  language  where  their  voice  is 
not  heard.  Their  line  is  gone  out  through  all  the 
earth,  and  their  words  to  the  end  of  the  world.  In 
them  hath  he  set  a  tabernacle  for  the  sun,  &c."  "  All 
thy  works  praise  thee,  and  thy  saints  bless  thee. 
How  manifold  are  thy  works,  in  wisdom  hast  thou 
made  them  all,  the  earth  is  full  of  thy  riches.  The 
invisible  things  of  Him  from  the  creation  of  the 
world  are  clearly  seen,  being  understood  by  things 
that  are  made.  Having  predestinated  us  to  the  adop- 
tion of  children,  by  Jesus  Christ,  unto  himself,  ac- 
cording to  the  good  pleasure  of  his  will,  to  the  praise 
of  the  glory  of  his  grace."  Passages  like  these 
abound  in  the  Psalms  and  other  parts  of  scripture. 
A  single  instance  respecting  an  individual  is  taken 
from  Romans  ix.,  17.  "  The  scripture  saith  to  Pha- 
raoh, even  for  this  same  purpose  have  I  raised  thee 
up,  that  I  might  show  my  power  in  thee,  and  that 
my  name  might  be  declared  throughout  all  the  earth." 

"  All  that  we  know  of  the  Almighty  is  gathered 
from  his  works.  He  speaks  to  us  by  the  effects  which 
he  produces  ;  and  the  signatures  of  power,  wisdom 
and  goodness,  which  appear  in  the  objects  around  us, 
are  the  language  in  which  God  teaches  man  the 
knowledge  of  himself.  From  these  objects  we  learn 
the  Providence  as  well  as  the  existence  of  God,  be- 
cause, while  the  objects  are  in  themselves  great  and 
stupendous,  many  of  them  appear  to  us  in  motion ; 
and  through  the  whole  of  nature,  we  observe  opera- 
tions which  indicate  not  only  the  original  exertions, 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  51 

but  also  the  continued  agency  of  a  supreme  invisible 
power." — Hill,  p.  28. 

"  The  language  which  we  interpret,  consists  of 
signs,  i.  e.  objects  and  operations  which  fall  under 
our  senses,  employed  to  indicate  that  which  is  unseen. 
What  are  the  looks,  the  words,  and  the  actions  of  our 
fellow  creatures,  but  signs  of  that  internal  disposition 
which  is  hidden  from  our  view?  What  are  the  ap- 
pearances which  bodies  exhibit  to  our  senses,  but 
signs  of  the  inward  qualities  which  produce  these 
appearances  1  What  are  the  works  of  nature  but 
signs  of  that  supreme  Intelligence  '  whom  no  man 
hast  seen  at  any  time.'  " — Hill. 

14.  The  Mediator  who  administers  this  entire  sys- 
tem of  things,  had,  before  the  first  act  of  creation,  the 
whole  scheme  in  his  view.  He  is  Creator,  Preserver, 
Lawgiver,  Ruler,  Redeemer,  and  Judge.  His  domin- 
ion as  Mediator  is  universal.  Of  him,  and  through 
him,  and  to  him,  are  all  things,  to  whom  be  glory  > 
forever.  In  him  all  the  types,  prophecies  and  promi- 
ses centre.  He  is  the  glory  of  all  worlds,  the  lumi- 
nary of  the  universe,  John  i.,  9 — the  inexhaustible 
fountain  of  all  the  treasures  of  nature,  grace  and 
glory,  Jeremiah  ii.,  13. 

15.  If  we  consider  the  nature,  objects  and  extent 
of  his  undertaking,  the  various  orders  of  intelligent 
creatures  to  be  instructed  by  his  manifestations,  the 
occurence  of  apostacies,  and  the  ensuing  conflict  with 
the  powers  of  darkness,  the  mystery  which  otherwise 
hangs  over  the  course  of  things  in  respect  to  the  reign 
of  idolatry  and  superstition,  the  terrific  reign  of  evil 


52  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

throughout  almost  the  whole  earth  from  age  to  age, 
under  successive  dispensations,  will  be  in  a  great  de- 
gree removed.  Not  only  should  the  number  of  angels 
and  men  to  be  instructed,  and  the  amount  and  variety 
of  instructions  be  considered,  but  also  the  circum- 
stance that  by  the  economy  adopted,  a  long  succession 
of  ages  is  required  to  complete  the  number  of  the  hu- 
man race.  And  it  may  be  assumed  that  a  less  amount 
and  variety  of  Divine  manifestations,  or  a  shorter 
period  for  their  exhibition,  could  not  suffice  to  prepare 
the  unfallen  and  redeemed  angels  and  men,  for  the 
scene  which  is  to  ensue  of  perfect  peace,  light,  holi- 
ness and  glory  upon  earth. 

16.  Such,  then,  being  regarded  as 'the  necessary 
condition  of  finite  or  created  intelligences  as  indicated 
by  the  course  of  proceedure  adopted  in  the  works  of 
creation  and  providence,  it  is  deemed  allowable  to 
assume,  and  in  harmony  with  what  the  Scriptures 
teach,  to  believe  that  a  knowledge  of  the  Divine  per- 
fections can  be  attained  by  angels  only  in  the  same 
way  as  by  men,  namely,  by  beholding,  experiencing, 
and  contemplating  his  works. 

17.  Hence,  the  earnest  attention  with  which,  as  the 
Scriptures  intimate,  they  regard  the  Divine  dispensa- 
tions toward  this  world,  and  especially  all  that  relates 
to  the  Redeemer  and  his  people. 

18.  It  is,  therefore,  believed  that  His  mediation  is 
as  necessary  to  their  instruction  as  to  that  of  men,  and 
that  it  would  have  been  as  necessary  to  the  instruction 
of  angels  and  men  if  no  apostacy  had  taken  place,  as 
it  is  to  fallen  men  at  present. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  53 

19.  With  this  view  of  the  subject,  let  it  be  regarded 
as  the  design  of  the  whole  course  of  dispensations  and 
events  after  the  apostacy  of  man,  to  instruct  the  uni- 
verse of  intelligent  creatures  in  respect  to  the  omni- 
science, immutability,  holiness,  justice,  goodness,  and 
other  perfections  of  the  Godhead  ;  and  that  along  with 
such  instruction  was  at  the  same  time  to  be  exhibited 
the  nature,  malignity,  and  evil  of  sin,  and  the  impoo- 
sibility  of  deliverance  from  it  or  its  penal  conse- 
quences, except  through  the  vicarious  death  of  Christ; 
and  the  reason,  or  one  reason,  will  present  itself  for 
the  course  of  dispensations  which  jjreceded  his  advent, 
and  for  the  typical  sacrifices,  and  the  prophecies,  and 
institutions  which  pointed  to  him,  and  by  which  the 
whole  scheme  of  hjs  manifestations  as  Redeemer  was 
unfolded. 

20.  Another  class  of  truths  otherwise  undiscovera- 
ble,  relating  to  the  divine  counsels  and  sovereignty, 
was  taught  in  the  course  of  these  dispensations,  in: 
connection  with  the  selection  of  Abraham  and  his 
descendants  to  be  the  chosen  people  of  God,  while 
the  nations  at  large  were  left  in  the  darkness  and 
bondage  of  idolatry,  under  the  dominion  of  sin  and 
Satan, 

21.  Let  it  further  he  considered,  that  the  most  glo- 
rious manifestations  of  the  divine  perfections  which 
we  know,  or  can  conceive  anything  of,  are  made  in 
the  work  of  Redemption;  that  every  step  in  this  work 
has  relation  to  the  fallen  state  and  sinful  conduct  and 
character  of  men,  and  the  malevolent  opposition, 
rivalship  and  usurped  dominion  of  Satan;  and  that 

4 


54  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

angels  are  as  deeply  concerned  as  men  can  be  to  see 
the  divine  perfections  and  government  vindicated, 
under  the  aspect  presented  by  this  scene  of  apostacy 
and  rebellion ;  and  there  will  appear  a  broad  foimda- 
tion  for  this  view  of  the  subject,  and  a  probable  rea- 
son for  the  gradual  developments  made  under  succes- 
sive dispensations.  The  lessons  to  be  taught  were 
such,  as  even  angels,  it  may  well  be  supposed,  could 
not  more  rapidly  learn. 

22.  This  view  is  most  strikingly  indicated  and  con- 
firmed, by  the  fact  that  the  Mediator,  in  the  execution 
of  his  work  as  Prophet,  Priest  and  King  of  Zion, 
assumed  a  visible  form  often  in  appearance,  prior  to 
his  taking  a  human  body;  that  as  incarnate,  he  was 
seen  of  angels;  and  as  the  object  of  the  united  love, 
homage  and  praise  of  angels  and  men  for  ever  and 
ever,  he  will  continue  incarnate,  to  be  visibly  recog- 
nized as  God  manifest  in  flesh. 

23.  It  would  seem  to  have  been  the  opinion  of  those 
who  distinctly  ascribe  the  works  of  creation  and  pro- 
vidence to  Christ,  that  in  those  works  he  acts  not  offi- 
cially as  Mediator,  but  simply  as  God;  and  that  his 
ofl&cial  or  mediatorial  work  commenced  after  the  fall, 
and  has  reference  only  to  man  in  his  fallen  state. 
This  does  not  appear  to  be  consistent  either  with  the 
language  of  Scripture,  or  with  the  nature,  connec- 
tions and  objects  of  the  works  referred  to. 

The  covenant  in  which  his  oificial  appointment 
and  undertaking  were  founded,  was  entered  into  prior 
to  the  first  exercise  of  creative  power.  His  people 
were  chosen  in  him  before  the  creation  of  the  world. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL    WORK.  55 

He  was  appointed  heir  of  all  things  which  were  to  be 
— by  him  all  things  were  made — in  him  was  the  life 
of  man — he  upholds  all  things — by  him  our  sins  are 
purged. 

His  works  of  creation  and  providence  are  most 
emphatically  announced  in  immediate  connection 
with  his  work  of  Redemption,  when  he  is  brought 
into  view  as  the  Mediator  incarnate:  "inv/hom  we 
have  redemption  through  his  blood — who  is  the  image 
of  the  invisible  God,  the  first-born — the  first  producer 
— of  every  creature:  for  by  him  were  all  things  creat- 
ed that  are  in  heaven  and  that  are  in  earth,  visible 
and  invisible — and  he  is  before  all  things,  and  by  him 
all  things  consist;  and  he  is  the  head  of  the  body,  the 
church — for  it  pleased  the  Father  that  in  him  should 
all  fullness  dwell;  and  having  made  peace  through 
the  blood  of  his  cross,  by  him  to  reconcile  all  things 
unto  himself;  by  him,  I  say,  whether  they  be  things 
in  earth,  or  things  in  heaven." — Col.  i. 

"He  was  in  the  world,  and  the  world  was  made 
by  him,  and  the  world  knew  him  not.  He  came  unto 
his  own  and  his  own  received  him  not.  But  as  many 
as  received  him,  to  them  gave  he  power  to  become 
the  sons  of  God,  even  to  them  that  believe  on  his 
name." — John  i. 

In  the  Apocalypse  the  representatives  of  the  angelic 
hosts  and  of  the  redeemed  church,  are  beheld  unitedly 
worshipping  him  that  sat  upon  the  throne,  saying, 
"Thou  art  worthy,  0  Lord,  to  receive  glory,  and 
honor,  and  power:  for  thou  hast  created  all  things, 
and  for  thy  pleasure  they  are  and  were  created." — 
Rev.  iv. 


56  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

24.  "What  may  be  known  of  God,  is  his  nature 
and  existence,  with  the  holy  counsels  of  his  will.  A 
representation  of  them  unto  us,  is  the  foundation  of 
all  religion,  and  the  means  of  our  conformity  unto 
him,  wherein  our  present  duty  and  future  blessedness 
do  consist.  For  to  know  God,  so  as  thereby  to  be 
made  like  unto  him,  is  the  chief  end  of  man.  This 
is  done  perfectly  only  in  the  person  of  Christ,  all 
other  means  of  it  being-  subordinate  thereunto,  and 
none  of  them  of  the  same  nature  therewithal.  The 
end  of  the  world  itself  is  to  instruct  us  in  the  know- 
ledge of  God  in  Christ.  That,  therefore,  which  I 
shall  now  demonstrate  is,  that  in  the  person  and  me- 
diation of  Christ,  there  is  made  unto  us  a  blessed 
representation  of  the  glorious  properties  of  the  Divine 
Nature,  and  of  the  holy  counsels  of  the  will  of  God.'^ 
— Owen  on  the  Person  of  Christ,  Chap.  V. 

25.  "If  it  was  God's  intention,  as  there  is  great 
reason  to  think  it  was,  that  his  works  should  exhibit 
an  image  of  himself  their  author,  that  it  might  brightly 
appear  by  his  works  what  manner  of  being  he  is,  and 
afford  a  proper  representation  of  his  divine  excellen- 
cies, and  especially  his  moral  excellence,  consisting 
in  the  disposition  of  his  heart ;  then  it  is  reasonable  to 
suppose  that  his  works  are  so  wrought  as  to  show  this 
supreme  respect  to  himself,  wherein  his  moral  excel- 
lency does  primarily  consist.  It  seems  a  thing  in 
itself  fit,  proper  and  desirable  that  the  glorious  attri- 
butes of  God,  which  consist  in  a  sufficiency  to  certain 
acts  and  effects,  should  be  exerted  in  the  production 
of  such  effects,  as  might  manifest  the  infinite  power, 
wisdom,  righteousness,  goodness,  etc.,  which  are  in 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  57 

God.  If  the  world  had  not  been  created,  these  attri- 
butes never  would  have  had  any  exercise.  The 
power  of  God,  which  is  a  sufficiency  in  him  to  pro- 
duce great  effects,  must  forever  have  been  dormant 
and  useless  as  to  any  effect.  The  divine  wisdom  and 
prudence  would  have  had  no  exercise  in  any  wise 
contrivance,  any  prudent  proceeding-  or  disposal  of 
things;  for  there  would  have  been  no  objects  of  con- 
trivance or  disposal.  The  same  might  be  observed  of 
God's  justice,  goodness  and  truth.  It  seems  to  be  a 
thing  in  itself  fit  and  desirable,  that  the  glorious  per- 
fections of  God  should  be  known,  and  the  operations 
and  expressions  of  them  seen  by  other  beings  besides 
himself.  As  there  is  an  infinite  fullness  of  all  possible 
good  in  God,  a  fullness  of  every  perfection,  of  all  ex- 
cellency and  beauty,  and  of  infinite  happiness  ;  and 
as  this  fullness  is  capable  of  communication  or  ema- 
nation ad  extra;  so  it  seems  a  thing  amiable  and 
valuable  in  itself,  that  it  should  be  communicated  or 
flow  forth;  that  this  infinite  fountain  of  good  should 
send  forth  abundant  streams;  that  this  infinite  foun- 
tain of  light  should,  diffusing  its  excellent  fullness, 
pour  forth  light  all  around.  Thus  it  appears  reasona- 
ble to  suppose,  that  it  was  what  God  had  respect  to 
as  an  ultimate  end  of  his  creating  the  world,  to  com- 
municate of  his  own  infinite  fullness  of  good;  or  rather 
it  was  his  last  end,  that  there  might  be  a  glorious  and 
abundant  emanation  of  his  infinite  fullness  of  good  ad 
extra,  or  without  himself.  It  is  evident  that  the  glory 
of  God  is  the  ultimate  end  of  the  work  of  redemption; 
which  is  the  chief  work  of  Providence  toward  the 
moral  world,  as  is  abundantly  manifest  from  Scrip- 
ture: the  whole  universe  being  put  in  subjection  to 


58  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

Jesus  Christ;  all  heaven  and  earth,  angels  and  men, 
being  subject  to  him,  as  executing  this  office;  and  put 
under  him  to  that  end,  that  all  things  may  be  ordered 
by  him  in  subservience  to  the  great  designs  of  his 
redemption." — President  Edwards'  "  E?id  in  Crea- 
tion.'^ 

26.  That  creatures  cannot,  either  in  the  present  or 
future  state,  see  God  otherwise  than  through  the  mani- 
festations made  by  Christ,  appears  from  the  following 
Scriptures : 

1  Timothy  vi.,  13-16:  Paul  charges  Timothy,  in 
the  presence  of  God  and  of  Christ  Jesus,  to  keep  the 
commandment  he  had  delivered,  till  the  future 
appearing  or  advent  of  Christ;  which  appearing  at 
the  time  appointed,  would  be  shown  by  Him  who 
delegated  to  Christ  the  work  of  mediation,  namely  : 
the  Blessed  and  only  Potentate,  "Who  only  hath  im- 
mortality, dwelling  in  the  light  which  no  man  can 
approach  unto;  whom  no  man  hath  seen  nor  can  see; 
to  whom  be  honor  and  power  everlasting.     Amen." 

John  i.,  18:  "No  man  hath  seen  God  at  any  time. 
The  only  begotten  Son  who  is  in  the  bosom  of  the 
Father,  he  hath  declared  him."  John  vi.  46:  "Not 
that  any  man  hath  seen  the  Father,  save  he  which  is 
of  God,  he  hath  seen  the  Father." 

John  xiv.,  9 :  "He  that  hath  seen  me  hath  seen  the 
Father,"  i.  e.  in  the  only  way  possible,  viz:  as  mani- 
fested by  the  Son.  See  xv.,  24:  "Ye  have  both  seen, 
hated,"  etc.  John  viii:  "I  speak  that  which  I  have 
seen  with  my  Father." 

These,  and  like  passages  teach,  that  in  the  nature 
of  the  casoj  God  is  and  ever  must  be  absolutely  invisi- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  59 

ble;  and  that  all  the  knowledge  of  him  which  is 
possible  to  creatures,  is  externally  manifested  by 
Christ. 

27.  The  ang-els  appear  to  have  been  constant  and 
earnest  spectators  of  the  events  of  the  mediatorial 
administration,  and  in  various  ways  to  have  shown 
their  deep  interest  in  them  as  the  means  of  their  in- 
struction. They  are  represented  as  eagerly  desiring 
to  imderstand  the  things  revealed  to  the  ancient 
prophets  concerning  the  sufferings  and  work  of  Christ, 
1  Pet.  i.,  12.  They  appeared  in  multitudes  to  attest 
his  advent  in  a  doxology  of  praise  to  God.  They 
ministered  to  him  on  the  occasion  of  his  temptation 
in  the  wilderness,  and  during  his  agony  in  the  gar- 
den ;  and  awaited  and  announced  his  resurrection. 
Are  they  not  all  ministering  spirits  sent  forth  to  min- 
ister to  them  who  shall  be  heirs  of  salvation  ?  As 
indicating  the  lively  interest  which  they  take  in  the 
salvation  of  individuals,  and  in  the  faithful  teaching 
of  the  gospel  as  instrumental  to  their  progress  in 
knowledge,  it  is  represented  that  they  rejoice  when 
the  doubtful  issue  of  awakening  and  conviction  in 
the  sinner's  mind  results  in  repentance, — rejoice  to 
witness  the  recovery  and  salvation  of  one  previously 
lost,  and  under  the  dominion  of  Satan.  And  the 
Apostle  Paul  after  specifying  a  variety  of  ministerial 
duties  in  his  first  epistle  to  Timothy,  chap.  iv.  and  v., 
says,  "  I  charge  thee  before  God  and  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  the  elect  angels,  that  thou  observe  these 
things."  And  elsewhere,  1  Cor.,  iv,  9,  speaking  of 
the  afflictions  to  which  the  Apostles  were  sulijected, 
he  says,   "  We  are  made  a  spectacle  unto  the  world, 


60  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

and  to  angels  and  to  men," — a  spectacle,  the  mean- 
ing- doubtless  is,  by  which  ungels  and  men  are  in- 
structed. 

28.  The  progressiv^eness  of  the  knowledge  of  saints 
and  angels  hitherto,  and  the  attainment  of  it  through 
the  manifestations  made  by  the  son  of  God,  considered 
in  connection  with  the  great  accessions  to  be  made  to  it 
hereafter,  would  seem  to  indicate  that  manifestations 
of  the  like  character  would  be  the  means  of  its  future 
progress.  That  their  acquisitions  of  knowledge  in 
future,  like  those  heretofore,  will  be  gradual  and 
progressive,  cannot  be  doubted  ;  and  it  is  hardly  to  be 
conceived  that  they  should  take  place  otherwise  than 
by  the  same  means.  If  a  course  of  outward  and 
visible  manifestations  is  adapted  to  the  instruction  of 
angels  as  well  as  of  men,  no  reason  can  be  imagined 
why  such  a  course,  increasing  in  magnificence  and 
glory,  and  exhibiting  the  sequel  and  results  of  inci- 
pient and  preliminary  measures,  should  not  be  adapted 
as  well  to  men  in  another  state,  as  to  angels. 

29.  "  The  saints  in  heaven  will  behold  the  torments 
of  the  damned.  '  The  smoke  of  their  torment  ascend- 
oth  up  for  ever  and  ever.'  Isa.  Ixvi.,  24  :  '  And  they 
shall  go  forth  and  look  upon  the  carcasses  of  the  men 
that  have  transgressed  against  me  :  for  their  worm 
shall  not  die,  neither  shall  their  fire  be  quenched, 
and  they  shall  be  an  abhorring  to  all  flesh.'  And  in 
Rev.  xiv.,  10,  it  is  said,  that  they  shall  be  tormented 
in  the  presence  of  the  holy  angels,  and  in  the  pre- 
sence of  the  Lamb.  So  they  will  be  tormented  in 
the  presence  also  of  the  glorified  saints. — Hereby  the 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  61 

saints  will  be  made  more  sensible  how  great  their 
salvation  is.  Every  time  they  look  upon  the  damned, 
it  will  excite  in  them  a  lively  and  admiring  sense  of 
the  grace  of  God,  in  making  them  so  to  differ.  This, 
the  Apostle  informs  us,  is  one  end  of  the  damnation 
of  ungodly  men.  Rom.  ix.,  22,  23.  The  sight  of 
hell-torments  will  exalt  the  happiness  of  the  saints 
forever.  The  sight  of  the  wonderful  power,  the 
great  and  dreadful  majesty,  and  awful  justice  and 
holiness  of  God,  manifested  in  the  eternal  punish- 
ment of  ungodly  men,  will  make  them  prize  his 
favor  and  love  vastly  the  more  ;  and  they  will  be 
so  much  the  more  happy  in  the  enjoyment  of  it." — 
Edwards,  VoL  vii.,  pp.  409,  410. 

30.  Whoever  considers  the  modes  in  which  matter 
is  cosrnizable  to  intellis^ent  creatures  of  the  human 
race,  as  by  vision  for  example  ;  and  how  the  power 
of  vision  is  enlarged,  both  with  respect  to  remote 
and  minute  objects  by  the  telescope,  the  microscope, 
and  other  optical  instruments  ;  and  that  in  a  mode 
of  existence  like  that  of  angels,  the  power  of  vision 
may  be  enlarged  to  an  extent  inconceivably  surpass- 
ing that  attainable  by  the  aid  of  such  instruments,  so 
as  to  bring  objects  which  to  us  are  immeasurably  dis- 
tant from  each  other,  within  immediate  and  minute 
inspection  from  any  given  point  of  observation  ;  and 
that  a  similar  enlargement  of  power  may  take  place 
in  respect  to  sounds,  and  perhaps  in  other  ways  ;  can- 
not fail  to  be  struck  with  the  wonders  of  manifesta- 
tion of  Divine  power,  wisdom  and  goodness,  which 
may  be  made  to  the  intelligent  universe  by  the  works 
of  creation  and  providence.     The  grounds  of  these 


62  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

modes  of  perception,  the  laws  of  optics,  acoustics, 
&c.,  are  inherent  in  the  very  nature  of  material 
things,  or  in  the  intuitions  and  modes  of  thought 
in  created  minds  ;  from  which,  and  from  their  adap- 
tations alike  to  objects  present  and  remote,  vast  and 
minute,  it  is  but  reasonable  to  infer  that  they  are 
fully  and  intimately  perceived.  To  suppose  this  in 
reference  to  angels  and  to  men  in  the  future  state, 
implies  nothing  inconsistent  with  their  limited  facul- 
ties, or  their  dependent  condition  as  creatures.  It  is 
but  supposing  them  to  do  directly  and  more  exten- 
sively, what  we  do  by  the  aid  of  instruments.  There 
is  nothing  incongruous  or  extravagant  in  supposing 
them  to  perceive  objects  as  much  more  remote,  and 
as  much  more  minute,  than  those  which  are  cogniza- 
ble to  us  by  the  aid  of  optical  instruments,  as  these 
exceed  in  distance  and  minuteness  those  which  are 
perceived  by  the  naked  eye.  And  hence,  as  is  infer- 
able also  from  other  considerations,  it  is  reasonable 
to  conclude  that  there  is  nothing  in  the  accidents  or 
conditions  of  matter  to  obstruct  their  vision.  If  their 
power  is  adequate  to  perceive  all  that  is  in  the  nature 
of  things  perceivable  by  creatures,  however  vast  and 
minute,  if  the  Divine  purpose  in  the  minutest  organ- 
isms was,  as  truly  as  in  the  larger,  that  of  manifesta- 
tion ;  or  if  the  wonders  of  Divine  power  and  wisdom 
are  as  instructively  exhibited  in  the  smallest,  as  in  the 
largest  objects,  the  supposed  extent  and  exercise  of 
their  power  may  be  reasonably  admitted. 

31.  This  view  corresponds  with  the  infinite  variety 
which  exists  in  the  works  of  creation,  and  equally 
with  the  infinite  diversity  in  the  works  of  Providence. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  63 

If  the  chief  object  of  both  is  the  manifestation  of  the 
invisible  One,  doubtless  all  the  manifestations  made 
in  and  by  them,  are  perceived  by  innumerable  intel- 
lig^cnt  creatures.  With  respect  to  the  mental  acts  of 
such  creatures,  indeed,  it  may  be  necessary  to  suppose, 
that  in  order  to  their  being  discernable  to  each  other, 
they  should  have  some  relation  to  matter  ;  but  such  a 
supposition,  even  in  regard  to  angels,  is  not  forbidden 
by  any  thing  that  we  know  concerning  them. 

32.  Some  suggestions  upon  tliis  subject  may  per- 
Iiaps  be  derived  from  a  consideration  of  those  in- 
stances, recorded  in  Scripture,  in  wliich  persons  and 
objects  ordinarily  invisible,  were  disclosed  to  the  view 
or  apprehension  of  holy  men. 

The  scene  on  Mount  Tabor,  as  described  by  the 
Evangelists,  is  a  signal  example  of  this  nature. 

The  disciples  were  endowed  for  the  time,  with  the 
faculty  of  seeing  the  persons  of  Christ,  and  of  Moses 
and  Elias,  as  they  appear  in  their  glorified  state.  The 
change  by  which  this  became  possible,  was  evidently 
wrought  upon  the  faculties  of  the  disciples.  Their 
power  of  natural  vision  was  suspended.  While  Jesus 
prayed,  (Luke  ix.,  29.)  his  visage  became  resplen- 
dent as  the  sun,  and  his  vestmen's  as  the  light;  Moses 
and  Elias  appeared  in  glory,  and  conversed  with  him 
respecting  the  death  which  he  should  accomplish  at 
Jerusalem  ;  while  this  was  passing,  the  disciples  were 
insensible,  overcome  with  sleep.  When  they  awoke, 
or  were  enabled  to  exercise  the  necessary  faculty  of 
discernment,  they  saw  the  glory  of  Jesus,  and  the  two 
men  who  were  with  him.  While  Peter  in  his  en- 
tranced state,  was  speaking,  the  scene  was  reversed  ; 


64  THE     MEDIATORIAL     "WORK. 

Moses  and  Elias  became  invisible  ;  a  cloud  enveloped 
the  disciples  ;  tbey  heard  a  voice  out  of  the  cloud ; 
and  Jesus  appeared  alone  with  them  as  before. 

A  like  chang-e  passed  upon  John  in  those  visions  of 
the  Apocal3^pse,  in  which  he  saw  objects  which  were 
invisible  to  him  in  his  natural  state.  See  chap,  i.,  iv., 
&c.  He  was  ravished  in  spirit.  As  soon  as  he  saw 
the  glorified  person  of  Christ,  he  fell  at  his  feet  as 
dead.     He  saw  thrones  and  persons,  and  heard  voices. 

The  visions  of  the  like  nature  of  Ezekiel,  and  of 
Isaiah,  suggest  the  same  explanation.  The  exercise 
of  their  bodily  organs  of  sense,  appears  to  have  been 
suspended.  They  saw  what  was  not  visible  through 
the  bodily  org-ans  of  vision,  at  least  in  the  ordinary 
and  natural  use  of  them,  and  heard  what  was  not 
audible  to  the  natural  ear.  The  case  of  Elisha's  ser- 
vant when  he  saw  hosts  of  angels  as  chariots  of  fire, 
may,  with  some  other  instances,  perhaps,  be  con- 
sidered as  of  the  same  class.  The  vision  of  Paul  on 
his  way  to  Damascus,  is  a  case  in  point.  He  saw  the 
risen  glorified  person  of  Jesus,  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  qualify  him  to  testify  to  his  resurrection.  As  in 
most  of  the  other  instances  referred  to,  he  fell  to  the 
earth  as  dead,  on  beholding  the  ineffable  glory,  more 
dazzling  and  resplendent  than  the  sun. 

Is  it  not  probable  that  when  Christ  shall  come  to 
rebuild  the  tabernacle  of  David,  which  is  fallen  down, 
that  he  will  appear  in  his  glory,  producing  instant 
conviction  of  all  the  truths  of  his  word  1 

33.  The  created  universe  may  be  conceived  of  as 
a  sphere,  within  whicli  are  included  all  creatures, 
and  all  the  adaptations  and  relations  proper  to  them. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  65 

These  adaptations  and  relations  are  essential  to  them 
as  creatures,  and  not  less  so  to  intelligent  and  ac- 
countable, than  to  irrational  and  inanimate  creatures. 
The  foundation  for  our  ideas  of  space,  and  of  time, 
in  so  far  as  it  rests  on  any  thing  external  to  our  minds, 
is  in  those  relations.  It  will  forever,  therefore,  be 
necessary  to  rational  creatures  to  exist  in  connection 
with  those  relations  ;  unless  in  their  future  state  they 
are  to  be  more  than  creatures,  by  being  exempted 
from  that  law  by  which  their  thoughts  and  feelings 
are  successive.  It  is  therefore  contrary  to  all  that  we 
know  of  the  faculties  and  capacities  of  man,  to  sup- 
pose that  in  a  future  state  he  will  be  removed  from 
those  concomitants  of  his  being  ;  removed  from  the 
relations  upon  which  time  and  succession  depend  : 
and  it  is  in  harmony  with  his  nature,  and  with  the 
obvious  meaning  of  the  Scriptures,  to  believe  that  the 
soul  will  in  the  future  state  be  invested  by  a  material 
body,  and  that  man  will  exist  in  connection  with  such 
relations  as  attend  his  present  state. 

34.  Our  blessed  Saviour,  when  on  earth,  constantly 
referred  in  his  discourses,  to  the  works  of  creation 
and  providence,  as  teaching  important  truths  con- 
cerning their  unseen  author.  Thus  he  calls  them  to 
consider  the  lilies  of  the  field,  which  by  the  Divine 
Providence  are  clothed  in  beauty  exceeding  that  of 
Solomon  when  arrayed  in  the  most  gorgeous  insignia  ; 
and  adds,  "  if  God  so  clothe  the  grass,  shall  he  not 
much  more  clothe  you  ?"  i.  e.  behold  and  trust  in 
the  wisdom,  goodness  and  universal  agency  and  care 
of  the  Divine  Providence,  as  manifested  in  these  ob- 
jects.    Again  :  when  the  disciples  asked  respecting 


6B  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

the  blind  man,  whether  he  was  born  blind  on  account 
of  the  sins  of  his  parents  or  his  own,  Jesus  answered 
that  he  was  born  blind  that  the  works  of  God  should 
be  made  manifest  in  him.  His  condition  of  blind- 
ness showed  the  Divine  sovereignty  and  purpose,  and 
gave  occasion  to  a  miracle,  by  which  the  divinity  of 
Christ,  and  the  mercy  of  God  in  him,  were  exhibited. 
By  the  first  miracle  exhibited  by  him,  that  at  Cana, 
it  is  said  by  the  Evangelist,  he  manifested  forth  his 
glory. 

35.  "  The  infinitely  wise  contriver  of  us  and  all 
things  about  us,  hath  fitted  our  senses,  faculties,  and 
organs,  to  the  conveniences  of  life,  and  the  business 
we  have  to  do  here.  We  are  able  by  our  senses  to 
know  and  distinguish  things  ;  and  to  examine  them 
so  far  as  to  apply  them  to  our  uses,  and  several  ways 
to  accommodate  the  exigencies  of  this  life.  We  have 
insight  enough  into  their  admirable  contrivances  and 
wonderful  effects,  to  admire  and  magnify  the  wisdom 
and  goodness  of  their  author.  If  the  most  instructive 
of  our  senses,  seeing,  were  in  any  man  a  thousand, 
or  a  hundred  thousand  times  more  acute  than  it  is 
now  by  the  best  microscope,  things  several  million 
times  less  than  the  smallest  object  of  his  sight  now, 
would  then  be  visible  to  his  naked  eyes,  and  so  he 
would  come  nearer  the  discovery  of  the  texture  and 
motion  of  the  minute  parts  of  corporeal  things  ;  and 
in  many  of  them  probably  get  ideas  of  their  internal 
constitutions."  '  And  here  give  me  leave  to  propose 
a  conjecture,  that  since  we  have  some  reason  to  im- 
agine' "  that  spirits  can  assums  to  themselves  bodies 
of  different  bulk,  figure  and  conformation  of  parts  ; 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  67 

whether  one  great  advantage  some  of  them  have 
over  us,  may  not  lie  in  this,  that  they  can  so  frame 
and  shape  to  themselves  organs  of  sensation  or  per- 
ception, as  to  suit  them  to  their  present  design,  and 
the  circumstances  of  the  object  they  would  consider. 
What  wonders  would  lie  discover,  who  could  so  fit 
his  eyes  to  all  sorts  of  objects,  as  to  see  when  he 
pleased,  the  figure  and  motion  of  the  minute  particles 
in  objects.  I  doubt  whether  we  can  imagine  any 
thing  about  the  knowledge  of  angels,  but  after  this 
manner,  some  way  or  other,  in  proportion  to  what 
we  find  and  observe  in  ourselves." — Locke  on  Human 
Understanding,  yb/io  130,  131. 

36.  ^'The  saints  in  leaving  this  world,  and  ascending 
to  heaven,  do  not  go  out  of  sight  of  things  appertain- 
ing to  Christ's  kingdom  on  earth  ;  but,  on  the  con- 
trary, they  go  out  of  a  state  of  obscurity,  and  ascend 
above  the  mists  and  clouds  into  the  clearest  light ;  to 
a  pinnacle,  in  th3  very  centre  of  light,  where  every 
thing  appears  in  clear  view.  They  have  as  much 
greater  advantage  to  view  the  state  of  Christ's  king- 
dom, and  the  works  of  the  new  creation  here,  than 
while  they  were  in  this  world,  as  a  man  that  ascends 
to  the  top  of  an  high  mountain  has  greater  advantage 
to  view  the  face  of  the  earth,  than  he  had  while  he 
was  in  a  deep  valle}^,  or  thick  forest  below,  surround- 
ed on  every  side  with  those  things  that  impeded  and 
limited  his  sight.  Nor  do  they  view  as  indifferent  or 
unconcerned  spectators  :  any  more  than  Christ  him- 
self is  an  unconcerned  spectator. 

"  The  happiness  of  the  saints  in  heaven  consists 
very  much  in  beholding  the  glory  of  God  appearing 


WS  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

in  the  work  of  redemption.  For  it  is  by  this  chiefly 
that  God  manifests  his  glory,  the  glory  of  his  wisdom, 
holiness,  grace,  and  other  perfections,  to  both  saints 
and  angels,  as  is  apparent  by  many  Scriptures.  And, 
therefore,  undoubtedly  their  happiness  consists  very 
much  in  beholding  the  progress  of  this  work  in  its  ap- 
plication and  success,  and  the  steps  by  which  infinite 
power  and  wisdom  bring  it  (o  its  consummation.  And 
the  saints  in  heaven  arc  under  unspeakably  greater 
advantage  to  take  the  pleasure  of  beholding  the  pro- 
gress of  this  work  on  earth  than  we  are  that  are  here; 
as  they  are  under  greater  advantages  to  see  and  under- 
stand the  marvellous  steps  that  divine  wisdom  takes 
in  all  that  is  done,  and  the  glorious  ends  He  obtains, 
the  opposition  Satan  makes,  and  how  he  is  baffled  and 
overthrown.  They  can  better  see  the  connection  of 
one  event  with  another,  and  tlie  beautiful  order  of 
all  things  that  come  to  pass  in  the  church  in  different 
ages  that  appear  to  us  like  confusion. 

"  The  pure  in  heart  are  blessed,  for  they  shall  see 
God.  Their  beatifical  vision  of  God  is  in  Christ,  who 
is  that  brightness  or  effulgence  of  God's  glory  by 
which  his  glory  shines  forth  in  heaven  to  the  view  of 
saints  and  angels  there,  as  well  as  here  on  earth. 
This  is  the  Sun  of  righteousness,  that  is  not  only  the 
light  of  this  world,  but  is  also  the  sun  that  enlight- 
ens the  heavenly  Jerusalem,  hy  whose  bright  beams 
it  is  that  the  glory  of  God  shines  forth  there  to  the 
enlightening  and  making  happy  all  the  glorious  in- 
habitants. '  The  lamb  is  the  light  thereof,  and  so  the 
glory  of  God  doth  lighten  it.'  None  sees  God  the 
Father  immediately,  who  is  the  king  eternal,  im- 
mortal, invisible  :  Christ  is  the  image  of  that  invisible 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  69 

God,  by  which  he  is  seen  by  all  elect  creatures.  The 
only  beg-otten  Son  that  is  in  the  bosom  of  the  Father, 
he  hath  declared  him,  and  manifested  him.  None 
has  ever  immediately^  seen  the  Father,  but  the  Son  ; 
and  none  else  sees  the  Father  any  other  way,  than  by 
the  Son's  revealing-  him." — President  Edwards  Ser- 
mon on  the  death  of  Braincrd. 

37.  "  Simple  as  our  sense  of  hearing-  may  seem,  it 
affords  a  striking  specimen  of  that  almost  infinite  vari- 
ety which  is  not  inconsistent  with  the  closest  resem- 
blance, and  the  notion  which  we  may  form  of  the  in- 
numerable varieties  of  sound,  is,  perhaps,  not  more 
vast,  when  we  attempt  to  wander  over  its  boundless 
discrepancies,  than  when  we  limit  ourselves  to  its 
greatest  similarities,  in  a  single  word  of  a  language, 
or,  in  that  which  we  might  be  inclined  at  first  to  re- 
gard as  simplicity  itself,  a  single  musical  tone." — 
Brown's  Philosoj)hy  of  the  Human  Mind.  Vol.  i.,  p. 
306.  Again,  j),  465,  "  That  the  changes  which  take 
place,  whether  in  mind  or  in  matter,  are  all,  ulti- 
mately, resolvable  into  the  will  of  the  Deit}'^,  who 
formed  alike  the  spiritual  and  material  system  of  the 
universe,  is  a  truth  as  convincing  to  our  reason  as  it 
is  delightful  to  our  devotion.  The  eye  which  looks 
to  heaven  seems,  when  it  turns  again  to  the  scenes  of 
earth,  to  bringdown  with  it  a  purer  radiance,  like  the 
very  beaming  of  the  presence  of  the  Divinity,  which 
it  sheds  on  every  object  on  which  it  gazes — a  light 

"  That  gilds  all  forms 
Terrestrial,  in  the  vast  and  the  minute  ; 
The  unambiguous  footsteps  of  the  God, 
Who  gives  its  lustre  to  an  insects  wing, 
And  wheels  his  throne  upon  the  rolling  worlds." — Cowper 


7ft ;  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

38.  "  If  we  suppose  an  order  of  beings  endued  with 
every  human  faculty  but  that  of  sight,  how  incredi- 
ble woukl  it  appear  to  such  beings,  accustomed  only  to 
the  slow  informations  of  touch,  that  by  the  addition  of 
an  organ  of  an  inch  diameter,  they  might  be  enabled 
in  an  instant  of  time,  without  changing  their  place,  to 
perceive  all  the  variety  of  a  landscape  1  Would  it 
not  appear  still  more  astonishing  to  such  beings,  if 
they  should  be  further  informed,  that,  by  means  of 
this  same  organ,  we  can  perceive  the  tempers  and 
dispositions,  the  passions  and  affections  of  our  fellow- 
creatures,  even  when  they  want  most  to  conceal 
them  1  That  when  the  tongue  is  taught  most  art- 
fully to  lie  and  dissemble,  the  hypocrisy  should  ap- 
pear in  the  countenance  to  a  discerning  eye  ;  and 
that  by  this  organ,  we  can  often  perceive  what  is 
straight  and  what  is  crooked  in  the  mind  as  well  as 
in  the  body  ?" — Reid's  Inquiry  into  the  Human  Mindy 
chap,  vi.,  sect.  1. 

39.  The  entrance  of  sin  into  this  world,  rendering  it 
a  principal  scene  of  the  rebellious  career  of  Satan,  and 
especially  of  his  opposition  to  the  Mediator  and  his 
people,  was  an  infraction  and  interruption  of  the 
plan  and  course  of  Divine  manifestations,  to  which 
the  earth  was  originally  adapted,  and  which  would 
have  taken  place  had  man  continued  in  his  original 
state  of  innocence. 

40.  ^' Man's  deviation  from  his  duty  was  a  disor- 
der, it  seems,  in  the  moral  S5^stem  of  tlie  universe, 
for  which  nothingless  than  Divine  wisdom  could  de- 
vise a  remedy, — the  remedy  devised  nothing  less  than 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  71 

divine  love  and  power  could  supply.  Man's  disobe- 
dience was,  in  the  moral  world,  what  it  would  be  in 
the  natural,  if  a  planet  were  to  wander  from  its  orbit, 
or  the  constellations  to  start  from  their  appointed 
seats.  It  was  an  evil  for  Avhich  the  regular  constitu- 
tion of  the  world  had  no  cure,  which  nothing  but  the 
immediate  interposition  of  Providence  could  repair. 
In  man,  in  his  fallen  state,  there  is  nothing  which  the 
divine  love  could  make  its  object.  But  the  divine 
intellect  contemplates  every  part  of  its  creation  in  the 
whole  extent  of  its  existence  :  and  that  future  worth 
of  man,  to  which  he  shall  be  raised  by  the  divine 
mercy,  is  such  as  moved  the  divine  love  to  the  work 
of  his  redemption." — Horseley's  Sermon  on  Rom. 
iv.,  25. 

41.  That  infraction  and  interruption  will  be  reme- 
died or  superseded  by  the  work  of  redemption.  The 
derangements  consequent  upon  the  fall  will  be  over- 
come. The  rebellion  will  be  quelled.  Christ  will 
achieve  a  perfect  victory  over  Satan,  confound  his 
devices,  and  defeat  his  purposes  ;  and  will,  in  the  re- 
sult, accomplish  all  the  manifestations  originally 
intended  had  sin  not  intruded,  in  addition  to  those 
peculiar  to  the  conflict  with  the  hosts  of  rebellion  and 
the  powers  of  darkness.  In  his  triumph  over  sin  and 
Satan,  he  will  make  the  earth  the  scene  of  holiness 
and  enduring  happiness. 

42.  President  Edwards,  in  a  beautiful  elucidation 
of  Romans  viii.,  19 — 22,  "The  earnest  expectation  of 
the  creature  waiteth  for  the  manifestation  of  the  Sons 
of  God.     For  the  creature  was  subject  to  vanity  not 


w 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 


willingly, "{&c.  (Works,  vol.  iii.  p.  391,)  has  the  fol- 
lowing observations  : — "  The  whole  creation  is,  as 
it  were,  earnestly  waiting  for  that  day.  For  that  day 
is  above  all  other  times,  excepting  the  day  of  judg- 
ment, the  day  of  the  manifestation  of  the  sons  of 
God.  This  visible  world  has  now  for  many  ages  been 
subjected  to  sin,  and  made,  as  it  were,  a  servant  to  it, 
through  the  abusive  improvement  that  man,  who  has 
the  dominion  over  the  creatures,  puts  the  creatures  to. 
Thus  the  sun  is  a  sort  of  servant  to  all  manner  of 
wickedness,  as  its  light  and  other  beneficial  influen- 
ces are  abused  by  man,  and  made  subservient  to  their 
lusts  and  sinful  purposes.  So  of  the  rain,  and  fruits 
of  the  earth,  and  the  brute  animals,  and  all  other 
parts  of  the  visible  creation  ;  they  all  serve  men's 
corruption,  and  obey  their  sinful  will :  and  God  doth 
in  a  sort,  subject  them  to  it ;  for  he  continues  his  in- 
fluence and  power  to  make  them  to  be  obedient, 
according  to  the  same  law  of  nature  whereby  they 
3aeld  to  man's  command,  when  used  to  good  purposes. 
It  is  by  the  immediate  influence  of  God  upon  things, 
acting  upon  them  according  to  those  constant  methods 
that  we  call  the  laws  of  nature,  that  they  are  ever 
obedient  to  man's  will,  or  that  we  can  use  them  at 
all.  This  influence  of  God  continues  to  make  them 
obedient  to  men's  will,  though  wicked  :  which  is  a 
sure  sign  that  the  present  state  of  things  is  not  lasting: 
it  is  confusion  ;  and  God  would  not  suffer  it  to  be,  but 
that  he  designs  in  a  little  tim3  to  put  an  end  to  it, 
when  it  shall  no  more  be  so.  Seeing  it  is  to  be  but  a 
little  while,  God  chooses  rather  to  subject  the  creature 
to  man's  wickedness,  than  to  disturb  and  interrupt 
the  course  of  nature  according  to  its  stated  laws  :  but 


THE      MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  73 

it  is,  as  it  were,  a  force  upon  the  creature  ;  for  the 
creature  is  abused  in  it,  perverted  to  far  meaner  pur- 
poses than  those  for  which  the  author  of  its  nature 
made  it,  and  to  which  he  adapted  it.  The  creature, 
therefore,  is,  as  it  were,  unwillingly  subject :  and 
would  not  be  subject,  but  that  it  is  but  for  a  short 
time,^  and  it,  as  it  were,  hopes  for  an  alteration.  It 
is  a  bondage  the  creature  is  subject  to,  from  which  it 
was  partly  delivered  when  Christ  came,  and  the  gos- 
pel was  promulgated  in  the  world  :  and  will  be  more 
fully  delivered  at  the  commencement  of  the  glorious 
day  we  are  speaking  of,  and  perfectly  at  the  day  of 
judgment.  This  agrees  with  the  context,  for  the 
apostle  was  speaking  of  the  present  suffering  state  of 
the  church.  The  reason  why  the  church  in  this 
world  is  in  a  suffering  state,  is  that  the  world  is  sub- 
jected to  the  sin  and  corruption  of  mankind. 

"  All  the  intelligent  elect  creation,  all  God's  holy 
creatures  in  heaven  and  earth,  are  truly  and  properly 
waiting  for,  and  earnestly  expecting  that  event." 

43.  With  respect  to  the  selection  of  this  earth  as 
the  scene  of  manifestation  for  the  instruction  of  the 
whole  universe  of  creatures,  it  may  be  observed  : 

(1.)  That  so  far  as  we  know  or  have  reason  to  sup- 
pose, the  human  is  the  only  race  of  intelligent  crea- 
tures which  is  perpetuated  by  succession  of  births ; 
and,  that  this  peculiar  constitution  or  appointment, 
gives  occasion  to  a  very  large  class  of  manifestations, 
acts,  provisions,  and  events,  for  which  there  could  be 
no  place  under  a  different  system.  Suffice  it  to  sug- 
gest, that  this  may  be  considered  with  reference  to 
the  dealings  of  God  with  parents,  families,  and  na- 


74  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

tions ;  with  reference  to  trains  of  events,  succeeding 
and  depending-  on  one  another,  and  connected  with 
and  affecting-  the  conduct,  condition  and  destiny  of 
individuals,  families  and  nations ;  with  reference  to 
prophetic  announcements  which  required  succession  of 
persons  and  events  ;  and  with  reference  to  the  ex- 
hibition of  human  character  and  agency,  and  of 
Satanic  and  human  wickedness  under  various  dispen- 
sations, and  in  every  possible  variety  of  circumstances. 

But  it  may  be  more  particularly  observed : 

(2.)  That  this  constitution  admitted,  that  the  first 
of  the  race  should  be  the  federal  head  and  repre- 
sentative of  his  descendants,  should  stand  in  their  law- 
place,  enter  into  covenant  both  for  himself  and  his 
posterity,  so  that  his  violation  of  the  covenant  should 
compromit  them  as  fully  as  himself. 

(3.)  The  incarnation  of  Christ,  the  occurrence  of 
which,  at  an  appointed  time  in  the  progress  of  events, 
was  essential  to  the  scheme  of  manifestation,  was  pro- 
vided for  by  this  constitution ;  and  since  the  human 
nature  which  he  assumed  was  sinless,  it  is  apparent 
that  he  could  not  have  assumed  such  a  nature  out  of 
a  fallen  race  but  for  this  arrangement  of  succession. 

In  a  word,  it  is  quite  obvious  that  the  relations  of 
men  to  one  another,  to  their  creator,  preserver  and 
moral  governor,  and  to  the  circumstances  and  events 
which  affect  them,  are  quite  different  under  this 
economy,  from  what  we  can  conceive  of  their  being 
under  any  other  economy ;  and  all  those  divine 
manifestations  which  have  a  bearing  on  these  re- 
lations, or  to  which  they  are  adapted  or  give  occasion, 
are  such  as  could  take  place  only  under  this  economy. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  75 

44.  The  kingdom  of  the  Mediator  is  an  everlasting 
kingdom.  His  lordship  and  dominion  will  never 
cease.  "  Thy  throne,  O  God,  is  for  ever  and  ever." 
In  the  end,  He  is  to  be  universally  recognized  in 
his  official  character  ;  every  knee  will  bow,  and  every 
tongue  confess  that  he  is  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God 
the  Father. 

45.  In  laying  the  foundations  of  such  a  kingdom 
there  seems  an  obvious  propriety  and  great  beauty 
in  its  being  commenced  with  an  inferior  class  of 
creatures,  in  an  insignificant  province  of  the  material 
creation.  Such  a  method  gives  occasion  for  ever- 
growing magnificence  and  glory  in  the  superstructure 
as  it  advances,  and  for  the  impressive  contrasts  and 
increasing  splendor  of  manifestations  required  in  the 
exhibition  of  his  character. 

46.  If  what  has  been  advanced  is  well  founded,  the 
following,  among  other  inferences,  must  be  admitted. 

(1.)  That  the  modern  theory  of  geologists  respect- 
ing the  antiquity  of  the  earth  and  a  diversity  of  cen- 
tres and  epochs  of  creation,  is  without  foundation. 
To  palm  that  theory  upon  the  world  as  the  result  of 
scientific  discovery  and  demonstration,  as  though  a 
denial  of  it  was  a  denial  of  ascertained  facts,  by  which 
science  and  Scripture  were  brought  into  opposition 
and  conflict,  is  grossly  dishonest,  and  exhibits  a 
remarkable  degree  of  hardihood.  The  theory  is  mere 
matter  of  inference  from  facts.  It  assumes,  but  does 
not  prove  that  the  facts  could  have  been  caused,  and 
can  be  accounted  for  in  no  other  way  than  that  assign- 
ed by  the  geologists.     If  the  origin  and  purpose  of 


76  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

the  creation,  preservation  and  government  of  this 
world,  and  of  all  worlds  and  creatures,  were  such  as 
has  been  set  forth,  that  theory  cannot  be  true. 

The  more  recent  and  boldly  Atheistic  system,  which 
— taking  the  modern  geological  hypothesis  for  its 
basis — ascribes  the  formation  of  worlds  and  of  all  inor- 
ganic objects  to  the  law  of  gravitation^  and  the  pro- 
duction of  living  creatures,  and  all  organic  objects  to 
the  law  of  development^  is  palpably  inconsistent  with 
any  and  every  view  of  what  is  taught  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, concerning  the  creation  and  government  of  the 
world.  According  to  this  system,  the  operations  of 
those  two  laws  account  for  every  thing.  Man  is  deve- 
loped like  everything  else,  from  inherent  qualities, 
and  his  actions  depend  solely  on  his  own  organization. 
The  masses  of  space  are  formed  b}^  law.  In  due  time 
law  makes  them  theatres  of  existence  for  plants  and 
animals.  Sensation,  disposition,  intellect,  are  all  in 
like  manner  developed  and  sustained  in  action  by 
law.  The  lower  animals  all  have  minds,  of  the  same 
nature  as  man,  only  less  perfectly  developed.  All 
animals — including  man — are  formed  for  enjoyment, 
as  the  end  of  their  being.  ,  Evil  is  only  an  exception 
to  the  natural  and  all  but  uniform  results  of  the  opera- 
tions of  the  Laws  referred  to — an  exception  which 
never  occurs  under  the  mechanical  operations  of  these 
Laws,  as  in  the  formation  of  suns  and  systems;  but  from 
their  operations  on  meteorology,  life  and  mind,  evil 
arises  from  the  great  variety  of  related  and  conflicting 
results. 

Shall  man  complain  of  being  subject  to  these  evils 
which  he  had  no  hand  in  procuring?  Let  him  be 
ashamed  to  complain  !     The  laws  to  which  he  owes 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  77 

his  existence  and  his  enjoyments  have  done  more  for 
him  than  for  the  inferior  animals.  In  due  time  in  the 
progress  of  development,  he  came  forth  into  being. 
The  Law  had  respect  not  to  individuals,  but  to  the 
species ;  and  as  a  whole,  the  species  is  very  well 
provided  for  and  very  well  off.  The  individual  is 
nothing — the  race  as  an  aggregate  is  alone  to  be  con- 
sidered. If  an  individual  suffers  ever  so  many  evils, 
physical,  social,  or  mental,  let  him  reflect  that  this 
results  from  no  prejudice  or  partiality  against  him. 
The  system  has  the  fairness  of  a  lottery,  in  which 
every  one  has  a  like  chance  of  drawing  a  prize.  And 
if,  afier  all,  there  be  a  God  who  created  and  governs 
the  world,  he,  doubtless,  will  know  the  wrongs  we 
suffer  here,  and  will  do  us  ample  justice  in  some 
future  stage  of  development,  some  higher  sphere. 

This  theory  or  system,  rests  on  and  results  legiti- 
mately and  necessarily  from  the  latest  geological 
hypothesis,  and  may  be  expected  to  have  the  same  dis- 
ciples and  alike  currency.  The  author  of  it  admits  its 
inconsistency  with  the  BibL",  or  what  the  Bible  is 
supposed  to  teach,  and  with  religious  beliefs.  But  he 
argues  that  such  beliefs  involve  questions  for  the  set- 
tlement of  which  our  knowledge  is  not  yet  ripe.  And 
since  the  truths  of  geology,  though  inconsiste^it  with 
the  Mosaic  record,  are  found  to  be  irresistible,  and  are 
admitted,  and  mankind  continue  to  regard  the  Scrip- 
tures with  the  same  respect  as  before  ;  so  in  regard 
to  his  hypothesis,  he  asks^  "maj^  not  the  sacred  text, 
on  a  liberal  interpretation,  or  with  the  benefit  of  a  new 
light  reflected  from  nature,  or  derived  from  learning, 
be  shown  to  be  as  much  in  harmony  with  the  novel-. 
5 


78  THE     MEDIATORIAL    WORK. 

ties  of  this  volume,  as  it  has  heen  with  geology  and 
natural  philosophy  ?" 

(2.)  Those  systems  of  Scripture  interpretation  which 
resolve  the  appearances  and  acts  of  the  Mediator,  and 
all  that  concerns  the  future  in  his  administration,  into 
invisible  operations  and  influences,  must  be  erroneous. 
If  the  course  of  outward  and  visible  manifestations 
heretofore,  was  adapted  to  the  capacities,  and  designed 
for  the  instruction  of  intelligent  creatures,  the  infe- 
rence cannot  well  be  avoided  or  deemed  unsafe,  that 
the  interpretations  of  the  prophecies  which  are  dis- 
tinctively termed  literal,  and  which  contemplate  in 
their  fulfillment  an  exhibition  of  outward  and  visible 
scenes,  are,  so  far  as  the  principle  is  concerned,  enti- 
tled to  be  exclusively  relied  on. 

It  happens  accordingly  that  the  partisans  of  a 
figurative  or  spiritual  interpretation  of  the  unfulfilled 
announcements  of  prophecy,  are  forced  by  their  theory 
to  explain  away  in  like  manner  the  visible  operations 
and  appearances  of  the  past.  Thus,  the  Scripture 
account  of  the  Creation,  of  the  Deluge,  the  destruction 
of  Sodom,  the  various  miracles,  and  visible  manifesta- 
tions of  the  Jewish  and  Christian  Scriptures,  and  even 
the  resurrection  of  the  dead,  are  explained  away  or 
made  to  mean  anything  but  what  the  record  obviously 
imports.  The  language  of  divine  revelation  is  in 
this  way  made  to  seem  less  intelligible,  less  adapted 
to  instruct,  less  certain  in  its  import,  than  the  fossil 
relics  of  geology,  which  after  ages  of  oblivion,  have 
just  emerged  from  the  bowels  of  the  earth  to  supply 
the  means  of  correcting  the  sacred  text. 


CHAPTER   III. 

THE  WORK  OF  CHRIST  CONSIDERED   AS  INVOLVING  A  CONFLICT 
WITH  SATAN  AND  THE  POWERS  OF  DARKNESS. 

1.  In  the  Scriptures,  Satan  is  represented  as  the 
adversary  of  the  Son  of  God;  as  striving-  to  counteract 
his  purposes,  to  defeat  his  work  of  redemption,  and 
to  harrass  his  followers,  and  deceive,  corrupt  and  de- 
stroy the  whole  human  race. 

2.  Having-  through  their  federal  head  procured  the 
apostacy  of  the  race,  and  involved  them  in  the  guilt 
and  doom  of  rehellion,  he  assumed  dominion  over 
them  as  leader  of  the  revolt,  and  made  the  earth  the 
theatre  of  his  rival  kingdom,  his  empire  over  fallen 
angels  and  men,  in  op^josition  to  the  throne  and  gov- 
ernment of  the  Mediator. 

3.  To  maintain  this  dominion  over  the  human  race, 
in  opposition  to  the  blessings  and  restraints  of  a  mer- 
ciful Providence,  the  lights  of  revelation,  the  voice  of 
conscience,  the  hope  of  pardon,  the  dread  of  punish- 
ment, and  all  the  ordinary  means  and  special  interpo- 
sitions employed  for  their  recovery;  and  so  to  main- 
tain it  as  to  uphold  his  rebellion  and  sustain  his  enmity 
and  malevolence,  it  was  necessary  that  he  should 
effectually  deceive  them  in  their  successive  genera- 
tions; that  he  should  assume  to  possess  the  prerogatives 


80  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

of  the  rightful  sovereig-n  of  the  world  ;  that  he  should 
claim  to  be  the  god  of  the  world,  its  prince  and  pos- 
sessor, exercising  power  over  the  elements,  controlling 
the  events  of  Providence,  dispensing  good  and  evil, 
temporal  and  spiritual;  and  as  such, claiming  homage, 
worship  and  obedience. 

4.  To  impose  upon  the  reason  and  conscience  of 
men,  and  blind  them  to  their  true  interests,  and  to  all 
that  concerned  their  duties  and  their  safety,  it  was 
necessary  that  he  should  counterfeit  every  divine 
institution,  and  give  the  lie  to  every  divine  injunction, 
promise  and  threatening;  turning  light  into  darkness, 
and  truth  into  falsehood.  The  evidence  of  miracles 
must  be  nullified  by  the  arts  of  magic  ;  the  announce- 
ments of  prophecy,  by  auguries,  oracles  and  diabolical 
inspiration  of  false  prophets.  Men  must  be  trained 
to  deceive,  corrupt,  torment  and  destroy  each  other. 
The  world  must  be  filled  with  darkness,  error,  super- 
stition, misery,  crime  and  blood.  Ignorance,  intoler- 
ance, vice,  cruelty,  oppression,  persecution,  tyranny, 
selfishness,  malice,  murder  and  war,  must  prevail  in 
the  minds  and  occupy  the  hands  of  men,  to  render 
certain  and  speedy  their  temporal  and  eternal  destruc- 
tion, and  counteract  the  designs  and  offices  of  mercy, 

5.  "The  intention  of  the  devil  in  seducing  our 
first  parents,  was  to  destroy  them,  and  thereby  to  put 
an  end  to  the  human  species.  This  malicious  design 
the  Son  of  God  rendered  ineffectual,  by  assuming  our 
nature,  and  in  that  nature  dying  as  a  sacrifice  for  sin. 
'Him  who  had  the  power  of  death.'  The  Apostle's 
meaning  is,  that  the  devil,  at  the  beginning  of  the 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  81 

world,  had  the  power  of  bringing^  death  on  all  man- 
kind, by  tempting'  their  first  parents  to  sin.  Hence, 
he  is  called  a  murderer  from  the  beginning",  and  a  liar 
and  the  fatlier  of  it.  It  was  a  power  usurped  by  guile." 
— Macknight's  note  on  Heb.  xi.  14. 


6.  Exaltation  was  the  result  and  reward  of  Christ's 
humiliation.  He  voluntarily  humbled  himself,  even 
to  the  death  of  the  cross;  and  therefore  God  exceed- 
ingly exalted  him,  in  the  view  of  the  universe,  giving 
him  a  name  which  is  above  every  name — that  thence- 
forth, the  angelic  hosts  and  the  whole  human  race 
should  bow  to  him,  and  every  tongue  should  acknow- 
ledge him  as  Lord,  to  the  glory  of  God  the  Father. 

7.  This,  and  passages  of  similar  import,  seem  to 
indicate,  that  in  the  delegated  official  works  of  crea- 
tion and  providence,  in  which  he  was  subordinate  to 
the  Father,  the  Son  of  God  assumed  such  a  relation 
and  connection  with  created  natures,  that  his  supreme 
lordship  over  all  creatures,  was  denied  by  apostate 
angels  and  men ;  viewing  him  in  that  connection, 
they  refused  him  Divine  honors;  especially  after 
taking,  or  making  known  his  intention  to  take,  the 
nature  of  man,  a  creature  inferior  to  Angels,  into 
union  with  his  Divine  person. 

8.  But  his  mediatorial  work,  from  the  first,  required 
this  connection;  and  by  carrying  out  that  work,  be- 
coming incarnate,  suffering  an  expiatory  death,  con- 
quering death  and  subjecting  all  enemies,  and  all 
opposition  to  his  claims,  he  at  length  secures  the 
homage  of  all  creatures  to  his  person  as  God-man  : 


82  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

all  the  different  orders  of  intelligent  creatures  through- 
out the  universe,  both  good  and  bad,  acknowledge 
Lis  supremacy,  dignity  and  glory  as  Lord. 

9.  All  creatures  were  required  to  regard  the  Media- 
tor as  the  only  medium  of  communication,  connec- 
tion and  intercourse  with  the  Divinity.  They  were 
to  feel  that  to  him  they  owed  their  existence,  preserv- 
ation and  all  benefits;  that  he  administers  over  them 
a  providential  and  moral  government ;  that  he  inter- 
posed, in  his  work  of  redemption  for  the  delay  of 
retribution  to  the  fallen  race  of  man,  the  exercise  of 
mercy  towards  them,  and  the  recovery  and  salvation 
of  a  portion  of  them;  that  he  is  the  w^ay,  the  truth 
and  the  life;  that  of  him,  and  through  him,  and  to 
him  are  all  things. 

10.  To  this  economy,  to  his  office  as  Mediator,  to 
his  work  of  manifestation,  to  his  person  and  character 
as  God-man;  and  to  his  position,  relations  and  claims 
as  the  sole  medium  of  divine  knowledge  and  benefits; 
as  possessing  in  his  official  character,  all  power  in 
heaven  and  earth,  and  being  entitled,  as  God-man, 
to  divine  worship  and  praise:  Satan  and  his  angels, 
and  fallen  men,  in  their  rebellion  are  emphatically 
opposed.  Their  enmity,  and  all  the  forms  and  devices 
of  their  wickedness,  are  directed  against  him  and 
his  work  as  Mediator,  under  every  dispensation. 
Their  malevolence  and  impiety  have  been  bold  and 
desperate,  in  proportion  as  his  manifestations  have 
been  more  conspicuous  and  multiplied. 

11.  Thus,  in  the  scene  in  Eden,  the  malice  of  Satan 

7* 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  83 

was  pointedly  directed  against  the  supremacy  and 
authority  of  the  Son  of  God,  whose  work  of  manifes- 
tation, as  their  Ruler,  had  begun  to  be  exercised  to- 
wards the  progenitors,  and  through  them  towards  the 
whole  race  of  man.  He  assailed  the  mode  in  which 
the  Divine  Will  was  manifested  to  them,  and  boldly 
denied  that  the  threatened  consequence  of  doing  what 
was  forbidden,  would  follow,  and  asserted,  that  by 
disobeying,  they  would  become  masters  of  knowledge, 
not  in  the  way  to  which  they  were  before  restricted, 
but  as  gods.  As  much  as  to  say,  '  You  are  deceived 
and  imposed  on.  It  is  derogatory  to  ])eings  endowed 
as  you  are,  to  be  restricted  to  such  modes  of  instruc- 
tion as  are  afforded  by  visible  or  audible  manifesta- 
tions of  Divine  power  and  authority.  Do  that  which 
is  forbidden,  and  you  will  no  longer  be  thus  restricted, 
but  will,  in  respect  to  knowledge,  be  independent 
and  self-sufficient,  as  gods  knowing  good  and  evil.' 

12.  The  practice  of  idolatry  in  after  times,  with  its 
train  of  perversions  and  abominations,  is,  as  will 
hereafter  be  more  fully  noticed,  directly  opposed  to 
the  authority,  institutions  and  administration  of  the 
Mediator  in  respect  to  divine  worship. 

13.  But  the  most  signal  illustration  of  the  point  in 
hand,  was  made  when  the  Son  of  God  appeared  on 
earth  incarnate.  In  the  immediate  view  of  the  divine 
manifestations  then  publicly  made  by  him,  the  ma- 
levolence of  Satan  and  wicked  men,  was  exhibited  in 
acts  of  the  boldest  enmity,  opposition  and  violence. 

14.  It  may,  it  is  presumed,  be,  without  impropriety, 
supposed  that  the  revolt  of  Satan  and  the  angels  who 


84  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

kept  not  their  first  estate,  had  especial  reference  to 
that  in  the  official  character,  dominion,  and  work  of 
the  Son  of  God,  as  the  Mediator  appointed  to  mani- 
fest the  Divine  perceptions  and  will  to  creatures,  to 
be  the  medium  of  their  worship,  as  Avell  as  of  their 
knowledge  of  the  Invisible  One,  and  to  be  their  law- 
giver and  king- ;  which  has  been  the  great  object  of 
his  rebellion,  opposition  and  rivalship  ever  since. 
No  supposition  appears  more  probable,  especially  in 
view  of  the  character  and  conduct  of  that  powerful 
fallen  spirit  as  since  exhibited,  than  that  the  delegat- 
ed power  and  authority  of  the  Mediator,  to  whose 
dominion  and  rule  all  creatures  were  required  to  be 
subject,  and  especially  the  exaltation  and  union  of  an 
inferior  creature,  the  human  nature,  with  the  Son  of 
God  in  his  official  works,  should  have  occasioned  at 
first  aspirations  of  envy  and  rivalship,  similar  to 
those  which  he  has  since  been  permitted  to  indulge 
in  his  usurped  dominion  over  this  revolted  world  ; 
his  assumed  and  counterfeit  pretensions  to  the  power 
of  miracles,  inspiration,  and  other  divine  preroga- 
tives, and  his  challenging  and  receiving  homage, 
worship  and  obedience  from  the  idolatrous  votaries  of 
pagan  and  Popish  superstition.  Certain  it  is,  that  he 
has  claimed  and  instigated  men  to  ascribe  to  him 
divine  prerogatives,  and  to  worship  and  obey  him  as 
if  he  were  god  and  ruler  of  this  world,  or  represen- 
tative and  vicegerent  of  the  Supreme,  to  whom  all 
divine  prerogatives  were  delegated ;  and  has  perse- 
cuted, proscribed,  and  endeavored  to  exterminate  all 
who,  refusing  to  worship  and  obey  him,  have  honored, 
loved,  worshipped  and  obeyed  the  God-Man  Media- 
tor.    His  past  and  future  career  as  represented  in  the 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  85 

Scriptures,  is  marked  by  ceaseless  and  desperate  en- 
mity, rivalship,  and  opposition  to  the  Mediator,  and 
his  work  of  manifestation  and  redemption,  and  by 
cruel  and  malignant  hostility  to  his  people  ;  and  he 
is  finally  to  be  bruised,  conquered,  and  punished  as 
the  great  adversary,  liar,  usurper  and  deceiver.  And 
when  the  rebellion  which  he  instigated  and  led  on  is 
wholly  subverted,  there  will  be  no  further  usurpation 
or  denial  of  the  honors  due  to  the  incarnate  Word ; 
but  on  the  contrary,  his  lordship  and  dominion  will 
be  universally  acknowledged  and  proclaimed. 

15.  The  opposition  of  Satan  to  the  success  of  the 
Gospel,  is  but  the  continuance  of  his  original  and 
desperate  opposition  to  the  Mediator  and  his  work  ; 
and  carries  on  its  front  a  denial  of  the  justice  of  God 
in  his  and  in  man's  condemnation  ;  a  denial  of  the 
necessity  and  efficacy  of  the  atonement ;  a  denial  of 
the  evil  of  rebellion  ;  and  an  avowed  and  determined 
purpose  of  self-justification  and  perseverance  in  his 
hostile  course.  The  universe  is  yet  to  witness  the 
perfect  triumph  of  the  Mediator  over  the  apostate 
faction ;  the  perfect  vindication  of  his  government 
and  work  ;  and  a  perfect  demonstration  of  his  justice 
in  the  punishment  of  the  wicked.  These  results  are 
but  the  development  and  consummation  of  the  pre- 
ceding course  of  events,  and  are  so  connected  with 
them,  as  apparently  to  forbid  the  supposition  that 
they  should  not  be  attended  by  the  most  public,  visi- 
ble, and  glorious  manifestations  on  the  part  of  the 
Mediator. 

16.  This  great  adversary  is  accordingly  set  forth  in 
Scripture  by  names  and  designations  which  indicate 


Wo  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

his  designs,  and  the  objects  he  aims  to  compass. 
Thus  he  is  named  '  the  Dragon,  that  old  serpent  called 
the  Devil  and  Satan,  who  dcceivelh  the  whole  world; 
Abaddon,  the  destroyer  ;  Apollyon,  the  exterminator  ; 
accuser,  deceiver,  tempter,  liar,  murderer,  god  of 
this  world,  prince  of  darkness,  roaring  lion,  angel 
of  the  bottomless  pit,  the  wicked  one.' 

17.  In  these  characters  he  has  pursued  his  original 
scheme  of  rebellion,  usurped  dominion,  rivalship  and 
opposition  to  the  Son  of  God,  with  a  boldness,  malig- 
nity and  perseverance,  scarcely  to  be  conceived  of. 
By  means  of  sin  and  death  his  confidence  of  success 
has  been  sustained.  The  depravity,  wickedness, 
idolatry,  impiety,  selfishness,  and  cruelty  of  men, 
have  been  the  active  instruments,  and  ample  resources 
of  his  warfare.  The  conflict  maintained  against  him, 
though  often  marked  by  decided  indications  of  su- 
premacy and  triumph,  has  not  discouraged  his  cease- 
less machinations,  nor  repressed  his  pride  and  ambi- 
tion. Though  forewarned  of  his  eventual  overthrow, 
and  utter  subjugation  and  ruin  by  the  power,  right- 
eousness and  majest)'^  of  the  incarnate  Mediator,  he 
still  affects  the  dominion  of  the  world,  and  challenges 
the  abject  homage,  worship  and  service  of  all  its 
idolatrous,  infidel  and  unholy  population. 

18.  The  Scriptures  do  not  so  represent  his  agency 
as  to  excuse  or  palliate  the  guilt  of  man.  Whatever 
his  agency  may  be,  man  is  not  the  less  guilty  for  his 
own  acts,  and  no  small  part  of  his  guilt  ensues  upon 
his  yielding  to  the  instigations  of  Satan,  instead  of 
resisting  them. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  87 

19.  His  more  marked  and  conspicuous  acts  in  direct 
hostility  to  Clirist  and  his  cause,  are  such  as  the 
seduction  and  ruin  of  the  first  Adam  ;  his  personal 
encounter  with  the  second  Adam  ;  his  attempts  to 
counterfeit  the  miracles  and  prophecies  of  the  Jewish 
and  Christian  dispensations  ;  his  instigation  of  idola- 
try, superstition  and  impiety  ;  his  perversions  and 
corruptions  of  revealed  truth  ;  his  malignant  tempt- 
ations, persecutions,  and  tortures  of  holy  men. 

20.  Over  the  race  at  large  he  has  domineered  as 
god  of  this  world,  father  of  lies,  a  murderer  from  the 
beginning  ;  ruling  in  the  liearts  of  the  children  of 
disobedience  ;  blinding  the  minds  of  them  that  be- 
lieve not ;  instigating  them  to  the  indulgence  of  all 
evil  passions  ;  the  practice  of  all  abominable  vices  ; 
the  perpetration  of  all  atrocious  crimes,  impieties, 
and  blasphemies. 

21.  Thus  he  instigated  the  first  murder,  as  if 
hoping  by  the  death  of  Abel  to  cut  off  the  promised 
seed.  He  put  it  into  the  heart  of  Judas  to  betray 
and  procure  the  death  of  Christ.  He  was  the  accuser 
of  Job ;  tempted  David  to  number  Israel  ;  was  a 
lying  spirit  in  the  moutb  of  false  prophets  ;  instigated 
Ananias  and  Sapphira.  To  his  influence,  doubtless, 
are  to  be  ascribed  the  crimes,  wars  and  outrages  by 
which  the  earth  has  been  convulsed  and  desolated, 
and  filled  with  violence  and  misery,  rendering  death, 
and  the  uncertain  future,  more  tolerable  than  life. 

22.  In  the  conflict  on  his  part,  the  field  has  been 
co-extensive  with  the  earth.  His  enmity  and  oppo- 
sition to  the  Son  of  God,    and  his  cause,  have  been 


UlS  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

exhibited  without  cessation  in  all  possible  forms  ;  but 
chiefly  in  the  counterfeit  worship  which  he  has  ex- 
acted, the  idolatry,  falsehood  and  superstition  by 
which  he  has  degraded  the  nations,  and  insulted  their 
rightful  King.  This  topic,  therefore,  deserves  parti- 
cular illustration. 

23.  He  is  undoubtedly  the  real  author,  instigator 
and  object  of  the  idolatry  which  became  prevalent 
soon  after  the  Deluge;  and  which  in  one  form  or 
another,  has  held  in  bondage  to  him  the  most  popu- 
lous nations,  and  substantially  almost  the  whole 
human  race  down  to  the  present  time. 

24.  Idolatr}',  in  all  its  forms,  and  wheresoever 
practiced,  attributes  to  creatures  properties  and  pre- 
rogatives, which  belong  to  God  only  ;  gives  scope  to 
the  depraved  passions  of  men,  prescribes  impure  and 
degrading  rites,  and  makes  men  both  slaves  and 
patrons  of  vice,  cruelty,  impiety,  falsehood,  and  all 
the  abominations  of  depravity. 

25.  Its  true  character  is  a  compound  of  atheism, 
blasphemy,  corruption,  and  blood.  In  practice,  as  a 
religion,  it  is  the  worship  of  devils  ;  as  a  scheme  of 
domination,  it  tyrranizes  over  the  souls  and  bodies  of 
men  ;  corrupts  and  degrades  the  one,  and  debases, 
afflicts  and  sacrifices  the  other. 

26.  As  an  apostacy  from  the  knowledge,  worship 
and  service  of  Jehovah,  it  is  in  bold  opposition  to  his 
supremacy,  and  to  his  claims  as  the  rightful  Sovereign 
and   moral  Governor  of  the  world.     It  usurps   his 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK*  89 

throne,  and  excacts  the  homage  and  obedience  of  his 
creatures,  perverts  his  laws,  and  counterfeits  the  rites 
and  institutions  of  his  worship.  And  especially,  is  it 
in  all  respects,  antagonist  to  the  person  and  work  of 
the  Redeemer,  treating  his  incarnation  and  atone- 
ment with  mockery  and  contempt,  harassing  and 
persecuting  his  followers,  perverting  and  corrupting 
his  gospel,  and  prostituting  his  ordinances  and  insti- 
tutions. It  assumes  infallibility,  the  poAver  of  mira- 
cles, the  authority  to  forgive  sin,  and  the  control  of 
the  consciences  and  of  the  final  destinies  of  men, 
living  and  dead. 

27.  To  establish  such  a  scheme  in  the  hearts,  and 
impose  it  on  the  understandings  of  men,  required  the 
power,  subtlety,  and  lying  wonders  of  the  great  ad- 
versary of  God  and  man.  At  the  period  of  its  origin 
the  leading  truths  of  revelation  respecting  the  attri- 
butes and  character  of  the  true  God,  and  the  worship 
and  service  which  He  required,  were  more  or  less 
distinctly  known  to  all;  and,  however  the  depravity 
and  corruption  of  men's  hearts  might  incline  them  to 
reject  or  evade  these  truths  they  could  not  renounce 
them  at  will,  and  adopt  their  opposites,  or  any  false, 
atheistic,  impious  or  debasing  scheme,  without  being 
blinded,  deceived,  instigated,  and  imposed  on.  Sure- 
ly more  than  human  skill  and  influence  were  neces- 
sary to  induce  the  adoption  of  such  a  scheme,  and  effect 
its  ultimate  purposes,  the  worship  and  service  of  Satan 
in  placeof  the  worship  and  service  of  God,  and  theutter 
degradation  and  corruption  of  men  in  place  of  their 
recovery  and  salvation.  It  was  necessary  to  blind 
their  minds,  to  deceive  them,  to  obscure  and  pervert 


99  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

the  divine  truths  which  they  knew,  and  to  counterfeit, 
dissemble  or  deny  the  facts  connected  with  those  truths 
and  the  then  existing  rites  and  institutions  of  religious 
worship  and  obedience. 

28.  That  this  was  necessary  is  apparent  from  the 
nature  of  the  case  ;  and  must  be  assumed  in  order  to 
account  for  the  perverted,  impious,  and  false  notions, 
and  abominable  rites  and  customs  which,  at  first,  and 
from  time  to  time  afterwards,  were  adopted  by  the 
heathen,  and  finally  by  the  Romish  church,  and 
which  hold  their  sway  to  the  present  time. 

29.  "  Tis  plain  in  sacred  Scripture,"  says  Locke, 
"  that  Christ,  at  first,  had  the  rule  and  supremacy 
over  all,  and  was  head  over  all. — See  Col.  i.  15-17; 
Heb.  i.  8.  There  are  also  manifest  indications  in 
Scripture,  that  a  principal  angel,  with  great  numbers 
of  angels  his  followers,  joining  with  him,  revolted 
from  this  kingdom  of  God,  and  standing  out  in  re- 
bellion, erected  to  themselves  a  kingdom  of  their  own, 
in  opposition  to  the  kingdom  of  God. — Luke  x.  17- 
20.  And  had  all  the  heathen  world  vassals  and  sub- 
jects of  that  their  kingdom. — Luke  iv.  5-8 ;  Matt, 
xii.  26-30;  John  xii.  31,  and  xiv.  30,  and  xvi.  31 ; 
Ephes.  vi.  12;  Col.  i.  13  ;  Rom.  i.  18;  Acts  xxvi. 
18,"  &c. 

Again,  referring  to  Christ's  victory  over  Satan,  and 
his  exaltation,  Phil.  ii.  9,  10.  "  By  all  things  in 
heaven  and  earth,  bowing  the  knee  at  his  name," 
he  adds  :  "  Which  acknowledgment  of  his  honor  and 
power,  was  that  perhaps,  which  the  proud  angel  that 
fell,  refusing,  rebelled." — Locke,  Works,  folio  ed. 
1751,  p.  329. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  91 

30.  "  '  This  present  world' " — wherein  the  children 
of  Israel  were  his  people, — the  Gentiles,  i.  e.  all  the 
other  nations  of  the  world  being  in  a  state  of  apos- 
tacy,  and  revolt  from  him,  the  professed  vassals  and 
subjects  of  the  devil,  to  whom  they  paid  homag-e, 
obedience  and  worship.  In  these  words  St.  Paul 
points  out  the  Devil,  the  prince  of  the  revolted  part 
of  the  creation,  and  head  of  that  kingdom  which  stood 
in  opposition  to,  and  was  at  war  with  the  kingdom  of 
Jesus  Christ." — Ihid.,  p.  335. 

31.  "As  to  the  devils,  who  in  the  dark  places  of 
the  earth  are  worshipped  as  gods,  they  have  no  dis- 
position to  help  those  who  cry  to  them;  for  they  are 
cruel  spirits  ;  they  arc  the  mortal  enemies  of  man- 
kind, that  thirst  for  their  blood,  and  delight  in  no- 
thing but  their  misery.  They  have  no  more  dis- 
position to  help  mankind,  than  a  parcel  of  hungry 
wolves  or  lions  would  have  to  protect  and  help  a 
flock  of  lambs, — and  those  that  worship  and  pray  to 
them  get  not  their  good  will  by  serving  them  :  all 
the  reward  that  Satan  will  give  them,  for  the  service 
which  they  do  him,  is  to  make  a  prey  of  them  and  de- 
vour them." — Edwards,  vol.  8,  p.  54. 

"  As  the  church  and  society  of  saints  have  Christ 
as  their  head,  so  the  faction  of  the  impious,  and  im- 
piety itself,  are  represented  to  us  with  their  prince, 
who  exercises  the  supreme  power  among  them." — 
Calvin's  Institutes,  Book  1,  Sec.  14. 

"  The  testimony  of  Christ  concerning  him,  that  he 
was  a  murderer  and  a  liar  from  the  beginning,  we 
find  verified  in  all  his  actions  ;  for  he  opposes  Divine 
Truth  with  lies  ;  obscures  the  light  with  shades  of 


9fi  THE     lyiEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

darkness  ;  involves  the  minds  of  men  in  errors  ;  stirs 
up  animosity,  and  kindles  contentions  and  wars  ; — 
and  all  for  the  purpose  of  subverting  the  kingdom  of 
God,  and  plunging  mankind  with  himself  into  eternal 
destruction." — Ibid.,  Book  1,  Sec.  15. 

"  The  gates  of  hell,  as  all  agree,  are  the  power  and 
policy  of  it ;  or  the  actings  of  Satan,  both  as  a  lion 
and  as  a  serpent,  by  rage  and  by  subtlety.  But 
where  in  these  things  he  acts  not  visibly  in  his  own 
person,  but  by  his  agents,  he  hath  always  had  two 
sorts  of  them  employed  in  his  service.  By  the  one 
he  executes  his  rage,  and  by  the  other  his  craft ;  he 
animates  the  one  as  a  lion,  and  the  other  as  a  ser- 
pent ;  in  the  one  he  acts  as  a  dragon,  in  the  other  as 
the  '  beast  that  had  two  horns  like  the  lamb,  but 
spake  like  a  dragon.'  The  first  is  the  unbelieving 
world,  the  other,  apostates  and  seducers  of  all  sorts. 
Wherefore  his  work  in  this  kind  is  of  a  double  nature; 
the  one  an  effect  of  his  power  and  rage  acted  by  the 
world  in  persecution,  the  other  of  his  polic)'^  and  craft, 
acted  by  heretics  in  seduction.  In  both  he  designs  to 
separate  the  church  from  its  foundation." — Owen,  on 
the  Glory  of  Christ. 

32.  The  first  defection  from  the  knowledge  and 
worship  of  the  true  God  into  idolatry,  was  exhibited 
among  the  Chaldeans,  probably  within  the  first  cen- 
tury after  the  flood,  for  it  was  far  advanced  in  the 
days  of  Terah,  who  was  born  soon  after  the  close  of 
that  century ;  and  is  declared  to  have  been  one  of 
those  who  served  other  gods.  The  leading  notions 
into  which  they  were  seduced,  were  adopted,  with 
some  additions  or  modifications,  by  the  Egyptians, 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  93 

Persians,  and  other  nations,  and  have  ever  since  been 
prominent  in  the  systems  of  the  Eastern  pagan  world. 

33.  Among  the  Chaldeans,  or  Assyrians  and  Baby- 
lonians, the  first  step  in  idolatry  was  the  worship  of 
the  sun,  or  of  fire,  as  residing  in  the  sun,  moon,  and 
stars.  The  next  was  tliat  of  erecting  pillars  to  those 
objects — as  the  pillar,  for  example,  which  they  erected 
to  Mars,  and  worshipped  as  a  god.  Then  followed 
the  making  of  images,  and  idols,  and  deification  of 
dead  and  living  men,  animals,  elements,  &c. 

34.  They  gave  the  name,  variously  written  Bel, 
Baal,  Bal,  Phel,  Phul,  Pul,  Pil,  Pal,  or  Pel,  to  the 
sun,  signifying  lord  or  king  ;  the  sun  being  lord,  or 
king  of  heaven.  To  the  moon,  as  queen  of  heaven, 
they  gave  names  signifying  queen,  as  Nabo,  Nebo, 
Baalah,  Baalta,  and  others.  The  stars,  or  host  of 
heaven,  they  called  Gad.  Mars,  which  seems  to 
have  been  first  distinguished  among  the  planets,  they 
called  Azer,  Azur,  or  Azar. 

Hence  their  kings  and  great  men  came  to  be  called 
Pel-ezer,  i.  e.  Pel-azar,  a  man  favored  by  the  sun  and 
Mars.  Belthazzar,  i.  e.  Bel-azar,  importing  the 
same.  Nabonassar,  i.  e.  Nabo-azar,  favorite  of  the 
moon  and  Mars.  Nebuchadnezzar,  i.  e.  Nebo-gad — 
azar,  one  favored  by  the  moon,  the  host  of  heaven 
and  Mars.  This  custom  also  attended  the  progress  of 
idolatry  in  other  nations. — [See  Sciiuckford.] 

35.  The  Egyptians  appear  to  have  been  the  first  to 
imagine  two  principles,  powers,  or  deities,  as  govern- 
ing the  world — one  the  source  of  good,  the  other  of 
evil,  and  being  respectively  resident  in,  or  represented 
by   the  sun   and    moon.     They   were   probably  the 


94  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

earliest  to  offer  human  sacrifices,  and  idolatrously  to 
vvorsliip  animals,  reptiles,  and  vegetables  ;  some,  pro- 
bably as  representing  the  good,  and  others  the  evil 
principle.  Syphis,  the  original  teacher  of  their  sys- 
tem, is  reported  to  have  studied  the  influence  of  the 
sun  and  moon,  and  concluding  that  they  were  twopow- 
erful  deities,  to  have  instituted  the  worship  of  them. 

36.  The  Persians  did  not,  perhaps,  degenerate  so 
rapidly  as  the  Egyptians;  but  their  defection  began 
about  the  same  time,  and  in  the  same  way.  Sabianism, 
or  fire-worship,  and  Magic  or  Magianism,  which  still 
prevail  among  them,  were  the  systems  they  first  adop- 
ted. They  appear  to  have  considered  the  sun,  moon 
and  stars  as  instinct  with  life,  in  the  subtle  form  of 
fire,  and  possessing  the  power  of  good  and  evil. 

37.  The  same  notions,  and  essentially  the  same 
forms  of  idolatry,  spread  over  Canaan,  Arabia,  and 
all  other  parts  of  the  Eastern  world.  The  defection 
from  the  knowledge  and  worship  of  the  true  God,  as 
if  proceeding  from  one  cause,  and  urged  by  one  pow- 
erful impulse,  soon  became  general;  so  that,  prior  to 
the  legation  of  Moses,  the  nations  and  families  of  the 
earth,  with  a  few  exceptions,  .chiefly  or  wholly  among 
the  Hebrews,  had  adopted  substantially  the  same  sys- 
tem of  idolatry.  The  progress  of  their  degeneracy, 
though  less  rapid  in  some  than  in  other  countries,  and 
in  every  other  than  in  Eg3'pt,  probably  exhibited 
similar  gradations  elsewhere  as  there.  In  that  coun- 
try, the  apostacy  began  with  the  worship  of  the  sun 
and  moon,  or  fire  as  the  actuating  principle  of  these 
luminaries;  or,  as  represented  by  them,  as  symbols 
of  a  good  and  an  evil  deity  or  spirit.     Next  they  added 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  95 

to  their  list  of  gods,  other  objects  of  sense,  as  the  stars, 
the  earth,  the  air,  water  and  literal  fire.  Then  they 
made  pillars,  statues  and  images,  and  introduced  the 
worship  of  heroes  and  dead  men.  In  time,  they  ex- 
tended their  homage  to  inferior  animals,  reptiles, 
vegetables,  evil  passions,  vices,  and  the  means,  or 
instruments  of  wickedness,  being  given  over  to  a 
reprobate  mind.  Along  with  these  abominations,  the 
kindred  arts  of  magic,  sorcery,  enchantment  or  div- 
ination, astrology,  soothsaying  and  witchcraft  were 
eagerly  cultivated.  They  had  both  carved  and  molten 
images  before  the  departure  of  the  Israelites,  which 
were  so  familiar  to  the  common  people,  as  to  be  called 
the  gods  of  Egypt;  and  the  proficiency  of  the  magi- 
cians is  suflficiently  attested  in  the  narrative  of  Moses. 

38.  At  the  same  time,  the  Phoenicians  worshipped 
Baal  or  Bel :  the  Ammonites  the  same  object,  under 
the  name  of  Moloch,  i.  e.  Meleck  or  the  King:  the 
Arabians  the  same,  styled  Baal-peor;  and  the  nations 
of  Canaan,  on  the  arrival  of  the  Israelites,  had  sunk 
into  the  grosser  abominations  of  idolatry. 

39.  The  Greeks,  copying  from  the  Egyptians,  com- 
menced with  the  worship  of  the  sun,  moon  and  stars, 
and  advanced  by  the  same  steps,  as  other  idolatrous 
nations.  They  worshipped  numerous  tutelary  gods 
and  demi-gods,  celestial,  marine  and  infernal,  the 
progeny  of  Jupiter,  a  Titan  prince,  deified.  Of  the 
first,  Apollo,  in  the  character  of  Phoebus,  represented 
the  sun;  Vulcan,  the  god,  and  Vesta,  the  goddess  of 
fire;  Diana,  under  the  name  of  Hecate,  in  hell,  the 
goddess  of  night  and  darkness.     The  infernal  gods 


96'  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

were  Pluto;  Pliitus,  the  god  of  riches;  Charon,  the 
furies,  the  fates  and  others.  They  had  also  rural 
deities,  fauns,  satyrs,  nymphs,  etc. 

40.  In  Southern  India,  Burmah,  Siam,  Japan, 
China  and  Tartary,  the  same  system  essentially  pre- 
vailed as  in  Egypt;  though  with  some  important 
additions  and  modifications,  such  as  the  absence  of 
opposing  influence  from  worshippers  of  the  true  God, 
and  from  the  doctrines  of  revelation,  may  be  supposed 
to  have  rendered  practicable,  and  most  adapted  totally 
to  blind  and  harden  men,  and  rivet  the  chains  of  their 
galling  superstition. 

41.  Hindooism,  or  Brahminism,  which  is  supposed 
to  have  taken  its  rise  in  the  days  of  Abraham,  when 
the  doctrine  of  one  eternal  Supreme  Being,  the  Crea- 
tor, was  known  and  believed,  by  some  at  least,  in 
every  country — still  teaches  or  admits  a  supreme 
deity,  called  Brahjne,  but  ascribes  to  him  no  agency 
in  the  creation  or  government  of  this  world,  and  in- 
culcates no  worship  of  him.  It  sets  forth  a  first  created 
being,  chief  of  good  spirits,  called  Brahma,  as  the 
creator  and  governor  of  the  world;  and  teaches  that 
Brahma  is  assisted  by  Vishnu,  the  preserver  of  men, 
who,  in  discharging  his  office,  has  at  nine  different 
times,  appeared  on  earth  in  human  form,  represent- 
ing the  Supreme  Deity  incarnate  for  beneficent  pur- 
poses. Antagonist  to  these  is  a  third  agent,  called 
Siva  or  Seeva,  the  destroyer.  The  three  are  constantly 
regarded  as  a  trinity  of  agents  or  powers.  They  in- 
volve however,  essentially,  but  the  two  principles, 
good  and  evil,  of  the  Egyptians,  and  of  the  Gnostics 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  97 

of  apostolic  times.  Inferior  to  these  chief  agents,  are 
good  and  evil  genii,  similar  to  the  eons  and  genii  of 
the  Greeks  and  Gnostics,  eternally  conflicting  with 
each  other,  and  filling  the  creation  with  disorder. 

42.  In  this  system,  the  transmigration  of  souls  is  an 
essential  dogma.  It  accordingly  teaches,  that  degen- 
erate fallen  spirits,  or  souls,  migrate  through  various 
spheres  in  the  bodies  of  different  animals,  and  that 
there  are  fourteen  such  spheres;  seven  below  and 
seven  above  the  earth,  the  latter  rising  gradually  to 
the  highest,  where  Brahma  resides. 

43.  Tliis  scheme  of  transmigration  is  founded  In 
the  fact,  that  man  is  a  fallen,  sinful  creature,  whose 
guilt  requires  atonement;  and  is  designed  to  restore 
the  degenerate  soul  to  its  primitive  state  of  perfection 
and  blessedness.  For  the  same  purpose,  costly  obla- 
tions, sanguinary  sacrifices,  self-tortures,  immolations 
and  other  degrading,  cruel  and  abominable  customs, 
are  prescribed;  and  a  grand  annual  sacrifice  is  observ- 
ed, not  very  unlike  that  of  the  scape-goat  under  the 
Mosaic  ritual,  except  that  the  victim  is  a  horse  instead 
of  a  goat.  This  system,  in  connection  with  the  kind- 
red one  ofBoodhism,  has  for  some  4000  years  held  in 
bondage  and  darkness,  more  than  half  of  the  human 
race. 

44.  In  Ceylon,  Burma,  Siam,  Japan,  a  large  portion 
of  China,  and  more  or  less  of  neighboring  districts, 
the  doctrines  and  rites  of  Boodhism  have  prevailed 
during  about  2500  years.  These  doctrines  are  boldly 
atheistic.     They  deny  a  first  cause,  and  teach  that 


SIQ  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

matter  is  eternal ;  that  Bood  is  to  be  worshipped  for 
the  exalted  piety  of  his  mortal  life;  that  since  his 
death,  he  has  become  incarnate  at  ten  different  times; 
and  that  the  highest  reward  of  piety  is  annihilation. 
In  practice,  the  destruction  of  animal  life,  as  in  Hin- 
dooism,  is  forbidden,  and  numerous  austerities  are 
prescribed.  The  doctrine  of  transmigration,  is  held 
much  in  the  same  way  as  that  of  purgatory  by  the 
Papists.  The  priests,  like  their  imitators  of  the 
Romish  church,  are  forbidden  to  marry,  and  are  re- 
quired to  live  by  mendicity. 

45.  In  Lamaism,  the  idolatrous  system  of  which 
the  Grand  Lama  is  the  object,  or  symbol,  the  work- 
ing of  Satan  is  still  more  boldly  and  impudently 
manifested.  It  is  a  kind  of  mock  theocracy  ;  assumes 
absolute  control,  both  over  the  temporal  and  spiritual 
concerns  of  men ;  and  appears  in  some  respects  as  a 
counterfeit  of  the  Jewish  under  Moses,  and  in  other 
respects,  as  a  pattern  of  the  Romish  Hierarchy  and 
power. 

46.  This  audacious  system  ascribes  Divine  preroga- 
tives and  honors  to  the  Grand  Lama,  and  teaches 
that  when  he  seems  to  die,  his  soul  passes  into  ano- 
ther body,  whereby  the  existence  and  prerogatives  of 
the  same  personage  are  rendered  perpetual.  He  is  to 
be  seen  only  in  a  secret  apartment,  surrounded  by 
numerous  lamps,  and  bedizened  with  gold  and  pre- 
cious stones  ;  where  at  a  prescribed  distance  the  peo- 
ple prostrate  themselves  and  worship  him. 

47.  For  three  thousand  years  or  more,  this  super- 
stition has  reigned  over  the  people  of  Tartary,  Thibet, 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  99 

Northern  China,  and  other  considerable  districts.  It 
supports  and  is  promoted  by  a  vast  number  of  subor- 
dinate lamas  or  priests,  and  a  surprising  multitude 
of  monks  and  friars,  who  inhabit  monasteries,  and 
profess  vows  of  poverty,  obedience,  continence, 
&c.  They  have  confessors  licensed  by  the  lamas, 
make  use  of  beads  and  holy  water,  impose  penances, 
and  offer  prayers  and  sacrifices  for  the  dead. 

48.  A  brief  reference  to  the  idolatry  of  the  w^estern 
continent,  especially  among  the  aborigines  of  the 
warmer  latitudes,  will  further  show  that  the  system 
in  every  part  of  the  earth  owed  its  existence  to  the 
instigation,  dominion,  and  craft  of  Satan. 

The  idol  temples  of  the  Aztecs,  or  Mexicans,  for 
example,  were  lofty  pyramidal  structures,  similar  in 
form  and  architecture  to  the  ancient  temple  of  Belus, 
or  Baal,  in  Babylon,  devoted  chiefly  to  the  sacrifice 
of  human  beings.  When  Cortez  visited  the  great 
temple  of  Mexico  with  Montezuma,  he  beheld  on  the 
broad  area  of  the  summit,  one  hundred  and  fifty  feet 
from  the  ground,  the  stone  on  which  the  human  vic- 
tims were  slain,  and  their  hearts  extracted  for  obla- 
tions in  the  apartments  below.  In  the  loftiest  of 
these  apartments  he  saw  the  colossal  image  of  the 
tutelary  deity  and  war  god  of  the  Aztecs.  "  His 
countenance  was  distorted  into  hideous  lineaments  of 
symbolical  import.  The  huge  folds  of  a  serpent, 
consisting  of  pearls  and  precious  stones,  were  coiled 
round  his  waist.  A  chain  of  gold  and  silver  hearts 
alternate,  was  suspended  round  his  neck  ;  and  three 
human  hearts  newly  offered,  lay  smoking  on  the 
altar  before  him.     Another  apartment  was  dedicated 


100  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

to  the  invisible  supreme  bein^.  He  was  represented 
as  a  young  man,  by  an  image  of  polished  black  stone, 
garnished  with  gold  plates  and  ornaments,  among 
which,  a  shield,  polished  like  a  mirror,  purported  to 
reflect  the  doings  of  the  world.  Five  bleeding  hearts" 
lay  on  a  golden  platter  on  his  altar.  The  capacious 
mouth  and  throat  of  another  idol  were  filled  with 
instruments  of  sacrifice  and  other  abominations,  which 
led  the  spectators  to  regard  it  as  the  figure  of  hell. 
The  rooms  were  so  clotted  with  blood  as  to  be  insup- 
portably  offensive  and  hideous.  The  walls  round  the 
temple  were  ornamented  on  the  outer  side  with  figures 
of  serpents,  a  common  emblem,  as  in  Egypt,  in  their 
sacred  sculpture.  The  priests  in  black  robes,  covered 
with  himian  blood,  seemed  to  be  the  very  ministers 
of  Satan.  Corfez  and  his  companions  beheld  in  the 
fantastic  and  symbolical  features  of  the  idols,  the 
literal  lineaments  of  Satan  ;  in  the  rites  and  frivolous 
ceremonial,  his  own  especial  code  of  damnation  ;  and 
in  the  demure  conduct  and  careful  nurture  of  the 
inmates  of  the  seminaries,  the  snares  by  which  he 
was  to  beguile  his  deluded  victims." — Prescott's 
History  of  Mexico. 

49.  This  system  gave  place  to  that  of  Romish 
idolatry.  Pope  Alexander  VI.  granted  a  large  por- 
tion of  the  western  hemisphere  to  the  Spaniards,  and 
of  the  eastern  to  the  Portuguese,  conferring  the  right 
of  concjuest,  with  condition  that  the  conquered  should 
be  subjected  to  the  Romish  faith.  Cortez,  in  his  zeal 
to  convert  the  Mexicans,  assured  Montezuma  that  the 
idols  he  worshipped,  were  Satan  under  different 
forms  ;  and  expressed  surprise  that  he  could  put  faith 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  101 

in  such  evil  spirits  as  these  idols,  the  representatives 
of  the  Devil.  When  the  work  of  conversion  after- 
wards advanced,  however,  the  successors  of  the  con- 
querors, discovered  in  the  mysteries  of  the  Aztec  reli- 
gion, the  features,  ohscured  and  defaced,  indeed,  of 
the  Jewish  and  Christian  revelations.  They  trans- 
ferred and  appropriated  whatever  might  assist  the  in- 
troduction of  their  own  system  of  superstition,  as  had 
been  done  in  the  case  of  Paganism  in  the  East.  The 
form,  not  the  spirit  of  idolatry  was  changed. 

50.  The  sentiment  and  feeling  in  which  these  systems 
of  idolatry,  imposture  and  delusion  were  founded, 
and  by  which  the  nations  of  the  East  have  been  so  long 
held  in  bondage,  gave  birth  to  the  systems  of  Pytha- 
goras, and  others  among  the  Greeks,  which  became 
extensively  prevalent  in  the  countries  bordering  the 
Mediterranean,  prior  to  the  Christian  Era ;  and  thus 
prepared  the  way  for  the  heresies  of  the  first  century, 
and  especially  for  that  prolific  mother  of  all  the  prin- 
cipal heresies  of  the  primitive  and  the  Romish  church, 
Gnosticism.  Not  only  was  this  system  founded  in 
the  same  feeling,  and  essentially  in  the  same  senti- 
ment, but  it  assumed  in  several  leading  particulars 
the  same  dogmas,  practices,  rites  and  forms. 

51.  The  Sentiment  referred  to,  involved  a  total 
misapprehension  of  the  moral  attributes  of  God,  and 
consequently  gave  a  direction  fatally  wrong  to  every 
thing  pertaining  to  religious  worship.  The  feeling 
was  that  of  fallen  human  nature,  under  the  delusion 
and  tyranny  of  the  evil  one,  seeking  to  recover  and 
justify  itself  by  its  own  devices  and  efforts. 
6 


102  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

52.  Tlie  sontiment  and  feeling  together  constitut- 
ed the  basis  and  essence  of  idolatry  in  all  its  forms  ; 
of  asceticism,  monkery,  celibacy  ;  of  relics,  pretended 
miracles  and  revelations ;  of  purgatory,  penance  and 
indulgences;  of  mystery,  priestcraft  and  persecution  ; 
of  plenary  power  and  authority,  spiritual  and  tempo- 
ral, over  the  souls  and  bodies  of  men,  and  assumption 
of  the  authority,  prerogatives  and  worship  of  God. 

53.  Hence,  though  Gnosticism,  as  a  public  and 
formal  heresy,  was  ai  length  subverted,  the  spirit 
of  it,  the  sentiment  and  feeling  remained,  and  still 
remain,  not  only  throughout  the  pagan  world,  and 
wherever  the  Romish  system  of  idolatry  and  lying 
wonders  prevails,  but  also  in  Protestant  communities, 
in  the  forms  of  Arianism,  Palagianism,  Antinomian- 
ism,  Socinianism,  and  various  subordinate  and  kin- 
dred heresies. 

54.  The  doctrines  of  Christianity  had  scarcely  begun 
to  be  proclaimed  when  the  philosophers  of  that  day 
broached  the  Gnostic  heresy,  b}'  which  they  attempted 
to  incorporate  the  Gospel  with  the  dogmas  of  oriental 
paganism.  The  chiefs  of  those  deluded  and  arrogant 
pretenders  to  knowledge,  like  the  Manichaeans  of  a 
later  date,  held  the  oriental  notion  of  two  principles, 
the  one  the  source  of  good,  the  other  of  evil. 

55.  The  evil  principle,  by  their  theory,  constitut- 
ed, resided  in,  and  actuated  matter.  They  accord- 
ingly ascribed  the  creation  and  management  of  the 
earth  to  this  principle,  and  considered  matter  inde- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  103 

pendent  and  active,  and  as  antagonist  and  rival  to 
the  benignant  principle. 

56.  They  held  that  the  souls  of  men,  contrary  to 
the  will  of  their  creator,  were,  by  the  evil  principle 
or  its  agents,  the  malignant  genii,  imprisoned  in  the 
corrupt  matter  of  the  bodies  which  they  were  forced 
to  inhabit,  and  were  thereby  polluted  and  made  subject 
to  evil.  To  effect  their  deliverance  from  this  deplora- 
ble state  of  servitude  and  darkness  they  prescribed  a 
violent  war  against  the  influence,  appetites  and  pas- 
sions of  their  bodies,  and  a  total  abstraction  of  their 
minds  from  them  in  religious  meditation.  The  body 
being  the  source  and  centre  of  evil,  was  not  to  be 
cherished,  but  to  be  opposed,  mortified,  scourged, 
tortured,  as  an  enemy  and  a  criminal,  lest  the  soul 
should  be  still  further  degraded  by  it. 

57.  The  oriental  sages  professed  to  expect  the  ad- 
vent of  a  divine  messenger  to  deliver  miserable  mor- 
tals from  the  power  of  their  malignant  oppressors  ; 
and  when  their  followers  perceived  that  the  Gospel 
when  it  was  first  published,  was  by  its  author  and  his 
apostles  miraculously  sustained,  they  were  impatient 
to  make  it  auxiliary  to  their  oriential  notions.  In 
doing  this,  however,  they  conceded  nothing  of  their 
theory  in  general,  or  of  the  diverse  opinions  of  differ- 
ent sects ;  and  to  meet  the  existing  opinions  and 
prejudices  of  Jews  and  of  Gentiles  of  difljerent  coun- 
tries, their  heresy  assumed  a  variety  of  forms. 

58.  They  taught,  among  other  things,  that  the 
books  of  the  Old  Testament  were  to  be  rejected  as  of 
no  authority,  since  they  gave  an  account  of  the  origin 


104  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

of  things  palpably  opposed  to  their  dogma,  that  the 
world  was  created  by  an  inferior  evil  being.  In  their 
frantic  zeal  against  these  books,  and  probably  by  way 
of  conciliating  the  evil  principle,  or  author  of  evil, 
they  bestowed  extravagant  encomiums  on  the  serpent 
as  the  author  of  sin,  and  upon  Judas  and  others  of 
the  most  impious  and  reprobate  character. 

59.  They  denied  both  the  deity  and  humanity  of 
Christ.  The  admission  of  His  divinity  would  have 
been  subversive  of  their  whole  system.  Their  notions 
of  matter,  as  the  centre  and  source  of  all  corruption 
and  evil,  required  the  denial  of  his  having  had  a  real 
body,  and  of  his  having  really  suffered.  At  the  same 
time  they  affected  to  respect  his  mission  as  designed 
to  destroy  the  empire  of  wicked  spirits,  the  malignant 
genii,  to  subvert  their  tyranny  over  the  souls  of  men, 
and  to  teach  the  human  race  how  they  might  sepa- 
rate the  immortal  mind  from  the  impure  body,  and 
fit  it  for  union  with,  or  absorption  in  the  Divine  es- 
sence. 

60.  Pursuant  to  their  notions  of  matter,  as  corrupt 
and  evil,  they  denied  the  resurrection  of  the  body; 
and  as  a  means  of  thwarting  the  influence  of  the  ma- 
lignant genii  they  studied  and  practised  the  arts  of 
magic. 

61.  While,  however,  some  of  them  held  to  aceticism 
and  every  form  of  self-denial  and  bodily  mortification, 
in  order  to  overcome  tlie  corruption  induced  by  their 
bodies  ;  others,  the  Antinomians  of  the  system,  in  or- 
der to  indulge  themselves  without  restraint,  denied 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  105 

that  the  naturally  pure  and  immorlal  soul  was  at  all 
affected  by  the  matter  or  actions  of  the  body,  asserted 
the  innocence  of  yielding-  to  every  dictate  of  nature, 
and  openly  abandoned  themselves  to  every  species  of 
vice. 

62.  To  account  for  the  disorders  and  miseries  of  the 
world,  the  principal  theories  of  the  Easterns  were  as 
follows :  tlie  ancient  Persians,  and  afterwards  the 
Manichseans  and  others,  held  to  a  good  and  evil  prin- 
ciple; ascribing  the  origin  and  management  of  things 
to  the  latter.  The  Pythagoreans  supposed  that  man- 
kind had  existed  in  some  previous  state,  and  were 
punished  here  for  the  sins  there  committed.  The 
Aristotelian  atheists  maintained  that  the  world  had 
existed  from  eternity,  and  grown  corrupt  by  degrees, 
without  any  first  cause.  The  Epicureans  held  that 
the  world  resulted  from  a  fortuitous  concourse  of 
atoms,  and  was  not  g-overned  by  any  intelligent  prin- 
ciple whatever. 

63.  Now,  in  order  to  originate  and  procure  the 
adoption  of  any  system  of  idolatry,  the  first  thing  to 
be  accomplished,  was  to  induce  in  the  minds  of  men 
a  sentiment  and  feeling  in  direct  opposition  to  the 
exclusive  claims  of  Jehovah  as  the  object  of  religious 
worship.  The  first  command  of  the  decalogue,  which 
for  substance,  must  have  been  known,  and  could  not 
have  been  less  obligatory  before  than  after  its  delivery 
by  Moses,  was  to  be  boldly  denied  or  effectually  evad- 
ed. As  in  the  temptation  in  Eden,  Satan  expressly 
denied  the  truth  of  what  God  had  declared  should  be 
the  consequence  of  disobedience,    boldly  asserted  a 


106  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

falsehood,  and  promised  other  and  desirable  conse- 
quences of  disobedience;  so  in  seducing  men  to  wor- 
ship him,  the  first  or  leading  pohibition  to  fallen  man, 
was  to  be  nullified  and  set  aside. 

64.  His  scheme  had  succeeded  with  the  progenitors 
of  the  race,  and  with  Cain  and  the  ungodly  families 
of  the  antediluvian  world,  till  their  impiety  brought 
on  their  utter  extermination.  That  on  the  outset  of 
the  peopling  of  the  New  World,  he  should  be  not  less 
assuming,  nor  less  bold,  is  every  way  probable.  And 
that  his  hostility,  opposition  and  rivalship,  should  in- 
duce him  to  assume  to  be  the  god  of  this  world,  and 
to  claim  the  worship  and  service  of  men,  as  having 
power  over  them  and  over  the  elements,  and  as  the 
dispenser  of  evil  and  of  good,  is  reasonably  to  be 
inferred  from  the  nature  of  the  case,  and  is  all  but 
demonstrated  by  his  next  chief  attempt,  namely,  by 
a  direct  proposition  to  induce  the  seed  of  the  woman, 
the  incarnate  Word,  to  worship  him,  and  thereby  to 
acknowledge  his  pretensions;  his  dominion  over  the 
earth,  and  his  right  to  dispose  of  its  kingdoms,  its 
inhabitants  and  their  possessions,  to  whomsoever  he 
would.  Nothing  less  than  direct,  personal  worship, 
such  worship  and  homage  as  should  carry  on  their 
face  an  open  acknowledgment  of  his  usurped  domin- 
ion, justify  his  apostacy  and  rebellion,  and  sanction 
his  cruel  tyranny  over  the  souls  and  bodies  of  men, 
and  hail  him  God  of  this  world,  would  satisfy  him. 
He  aimed  at  nothing  less — he  boldly  aimed  at  this, 
and  plainly  disclosed  that  this  had  ever  been  his  aim. 
Success  in  his  rebellion  required  this.  If  he  failed  in 
this,  his  whole  scheme  would  fail,  his  head  would  be 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  107 

crushed,  his  revolt  woukl  be  suppressed,  he  would  be 
punished  as  a  rebel,  and  the  ringleader  of  rebels. 

65.  It  is,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  that  the  leader 
of  rebellion  ih  a  revolted  province,  should  set  up  and 
administer  a  government  of  his  own,  in  order  to  sus- 
tain the  rebellion,  compass  the  objects  of  his  ambition, 
and  secure  the  support  and  service  of  his  party.  He 
will  aim  to  do  this  as  long-  as  the  spirit  of  rebellion 
continues  to  prevail.  When  he  can  no  longer  do  it, 
his  career  is  at  an  end ;  the  power  which  he  had  op- 
posed, will  resume  its  former  sway  over  the  province. 
But  while  he  rules  as  chief  of  subordinate  rebels,  he 
will  exact  from  them  their  entire  allegiance  and  ex- 
clusive service,  and  will  oppose  and  crush  all  who 
fail  him  in  those  particulars.  In  proportion  as  the 
rebellion  is  unreasonable  and  unjustifiable,  will  be 
the  necessity  of  a  severe,  arbitrary  and  tyrannical 
government  over  the  rebels,  to  keep  them  in  subjec- 
tion. Privations,  oppression,  cruelty,  degradation, 
want,  misery,  may  all  be  requisite  ;  or  if  they  render 
a  willing  service,  the  sorceries  of  delusion  and  the 
indulgence  of  evil  passions,  must  be  extended  to  them. 

66.  So  in  the  present  case,  in  this  revolted  province 
of  the  universe,  Satan,  the  leader  of  the  rebellion, 
proceeds  as  having  a  kingdom,  an  empire,  a  govern- 
ment over  fallen  angels  and  men — he  is  prince  of 
subordinate  devils — god  of  fallen  men,  whom  he 
leads  captive  at  his  will.  To  establish  and  maintain 
this  revolt,  and  his  supremacy  and  rule  over  the 
rebels,  in  opposition  to  the  supremacy  and  govern- 
ment of  God,  has  been  his  aim  and  end  from  the  be- 


108  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

ginning.  Hence,  the  means  he  has  employed  to 
perpetuate  the  revoh,  and  secure  to  himself  the  alle- 
giance, worship  and  service  of  his  adherents;  and  to 
counteract  the  work  of  the  Mediator,  corrupt  and 
harass  the  church,  and  oppose,  tempt,  hinder  or  des- 
troy all  who  renounce  his  service,  and  are  redeemed 
from  his  power  unto  God  through  the  atonement. 

67.  Such  having  been  his  object  and  aim,  it  were 
inconsistent  to  suppose  that  they  should  not  have 
characterized  his  first  attempts  to  establish  Idolatry. 
What  could  be  more  suited  to  his  purpose,  what  more 
gratifying  to  his  pride,  what  more  entirely  in  the 
spirit  of  his  rebellion,  than  to  usurp  the  place,  and 
exact  the  worship  and  service  due  to  the  Sovereign  of 
the  universe;  and  to  induce  revolted  man  to  profess 
and  act  openly  and  boldl}^,  in  defiance  and  opposition 
to  the  injunction  against  having,  acknowledging  or 
worshipping  any  other  than  the  true  God?  This  pro- 
hibition lies  at  the  foundation  of  all  that  relates  to  the 
knowledge,  acknowledgment  and  worship  of  Jehovah. 
A  perfect  compliance  with  it,  is  essential  to  all  accep- 
table worship  and  service.  The  denial  of  it,  the  op- 
posite, the  acknowledgment  and  worship  of  other 
gods,  is  atheism,  and  involves  essentially  all  rebellion 
and  wickedness. 

68.  To  give  effect  to  this  falsehood  and  fasten  the 
cheat  upon  men,  it  appears  that,  as  in  the  temptation 
in  Eden,  their  senses  were  made  use  of :  that  visible 
objects,  and  especially  the  sun,  as  the  source  of 
benefits  of  which  they  were  conscious,  was  appealed 
to  us  the  power,    or  the  symbol  of  the  power  which 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  109 

governed  this  world  and  its  ai'rial  regions  ;  and  that 
they  were  induced  to  acknowledge  and  direct  their 
worship  to  that  object,  not  as  Creator,  nor  as  Ruler 
of  the  universe,  but  as  the  image,  or  symbol  of  the 
god  of  this  world,  disposer  of  events,  source  of  their 
chief  blessings,  and  controller  of  their  destinies. 
Such  was  the  first  step,  the  initiatory  proceeding-, 
preparatory  to  the  debasing  worship  of  graven  images, 
animals,  reptiles  and  insects,  and  the  abominable 
vices  and  pollutions  connected  therewith. 

69.  In  after  times,  to  seduce  the  Jews  into  this 
idolatry,  and  to  counteract  the  influence  of  the  reve- 
lations recorded  by  Moses,  the  same  course  was  pur- 
sued as  with  tihe  early  descendants  of  Noah,  who  had 
been  instructed  in  the  knowledge  of  the  true  God. 
Fire,  which  on  many  occasions  was  exhibited  as  a 
symbol  of  the  true  God,  had  been,  as  essentially  re- 
siding in  the  sun,  adopted  as  the  symbol  of  the  tute- 
lary god  represented  by  the  image  of  Baal — he  that 
rules,  god  of  this  world,  in  distinction  from  the  Su- 
preme, Eternal,  Invisible  One.  Those  of  the  Jews 
who  w^orshipped  and  served  Baal,  instead  of  wor- 
shipping the  true  God,  who  was  manifested  in  the 
burning  bush,  in  the  shekina,  in  the  pillar  of  cloud, 
and  on  various  other  occasions,  worshipped  Satan  as 
god  of  this  world,  symbolized  by  the  sun,  and  re- 
presented by  the  images  of  Baal. 

70,  In  this  worship,  the  use  of  fire  in  consuming 
the  burnt  offerings  and  in  other  services  of  the  Jew- 
ish ritual,  was  counterfeited  by  casting  human  vic- 

6* 


110  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

tiras  into  the  arras  of  the  heated  image,  or  otherwise 
burning-  them  alive  at  his  feet,  or  on  his  ahar. 

71.  This  view  of  the  course  of  things,  however 
the  diabolical  instigation  of  it  may  be  doul)ted  of  by 
those,  if  there  be  such,  who  impute  the  introduction, 
devices,  and  abominations  of  idolatry,  exclusively  to 
human  depravity  and  imposture,  seems  to  be  re- 
quired— 

72.  First,  By  the  early  and  rapid  success  of  a  scheme, 
which  involved  such  monstrous  impiety  and  bloody 
rites.  It  is  incredible  that  men,  however  corrupt  and 
debased,  should,  without  diabolical  assistance,  have 
devised  and  propagated  with  success  such  a  scheme  ; 
as  incredible  as  that  the  original  apostacy  should  have 
taken  place  without  the  crafty  instigation  of  Satan, 
or  that  any  other  events  in  which  his  agency  is  de- 
clared to  have  been  concerned,  should  have  taken 
place  without  him. 

73.  Secondly,  By  the  character  of  the  worship 
given  in  the  Scriptures.  It  is  repeatedly  characterized 
as  the  worship  of  Satan,  and  of  devils  or  demons, 
fallen  angels,  co-rebels  with  Satan.  Not  only  is  the 
worship  of  Baal  so  characterized,  but  also  the  idola- 
try of  the  Gentiles  at  large,  and  without  exception, 
"  The  things  which  the  Gentiles  sacrificed,  they  sac- 
rificed to  devils,  and  not  to  God."  To  participate 
in  their  worship  and  their  idolatrous  feasts,  was  to 
have  fellowship  with  devils,  and  to  be  partakers  of 
the  "table,  and  drink  the  cup  of  devils."  The  idolatry 
of  the  Jews  who  joined  themselves  unto  Baal-peor, 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  Ill 

and  ate  the  sacrifices  of  the  dead,  is  thus  characterised 
— "  They  sacrificed  their  sons  and  their  daughters  un- 
to devils,  and  shed  innocent  blood,  even  the  blood  of 
their  sons  and  of  their  daughters,  whom  they  sacri- 
ficed unto  the  idols  of  Canaan." — Psalm  cvi.,  Deu- 
teronomy xxxii.  17. 

74.  Thirdly,  By  his  character  and  object  as  the 
great  adversary  of  God  and  man,  the  father  of  lies, 
deceiver,  tempter,  destroyer ;  head  and  leader  of  re- 
bellion. 

75.  Fourthly,  By  the  dominion  over  wicked  men 
which  is  ascribed  to  him,  as  god  of  this  world,  prince 
and  ruler  over  its  darkness,  ruling  in  the  children  of 
disobedience,  leading  them  captive,  ensnaring  them. 
The  whole  world  of  the  ungodly,  it  is  declared,  lieth 
under  the  dominion  of  the  wicked  one.     1  John  iii.  12. 

76.  Fifthly,  By  the  fact  that  those  who  are  con- 
verted, have  their  eyes  opened,  and  are  turned  from 
darkness  to  light,  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  unto 
God. 

77.  Sixthly,  By  the  means  employed,  the  Divine 
manifestations,  miracles,  threatenings,  judgments  and 
mercies  employed  to  reclaim  and  preserve  the  Israel- 
ites from  the  idolatries  which  they  had  practised  in 
Egypt,  and  those  of  the  nations  of  Canaan.  It  seems 
quite  too  much  to  suppose  that  such  a  course  of  mea- 
sures, such  unexampled  exhibitions  of  Divine  power, 
and  such  signal  rebukes,  restraints,  and  inflictions  as 
took  place  at  Sinai  and  in  the  wilderness,  should  have 


112  THE     MEDIATORIAL      WORK. 

been  necessary,  and  should  have,  been  so  long  con- 
tinued, and  with  so  little  success,  to  reclaim  and  pre- 
serve men  from  a  scheme  of  debasing-  superstition,  of 
their  own  unassisted  contrivance  and  adoption — that 
they  should  persevere  in  such  madness,  braving  the 
instant  and  most  signal  operations  of  Divine  power 
in  their  destruction — disregarding  the  miracles  of 
Egypt,  at  the  Red  Sea  and  in  the  wilderness,  the 
thunders  of  Sinai,  and  the  visible  symbol  of  the  Di- 
vine presence  in  the  pillar  of  fire  and  the  tabernacle  ; 
that  after  their  entrance  into  the  Land  of  Canaan,  a 
long  course  of  inflictions,  famines,  pestilences,  sub- 
jection to  the  tyranny  of  their  heathen  neighbors,  and 
finally,  expulsion  from  their  country,  and  bondage  to 
foreign  nations,  should  have  been  necessary  to  wean 
them  from  the  abominations  of  idolatry,  if  they  were 
not  instigated  to  persevere  by  Satanic  influence. 

78.  The  history  of  this  course  of  things  presents 
rather  a  scene  of  prolonged  and  desperate  conflict  on 
the  part  of  Satan  and  the  powers  of  darkness,  against 
the  leader  of  Israel,  the  King  and  Redeemer  of  Zion 
— a  rivalship  and  struggle  for  mastery,  which  was 
continued  without  intermission  or  abatement  till  the 
first  temple  was  destvoyed,  the  visible  presence  in  the 
Shekina  withdrawn,  and  the  interposition  of  miracles, 
and  other  special  tokens  of  Divine  care  discontinued — 
a  struggle  which  was  renewed  on  the  appearance  of 
Christ  in  the  flesh,  and  has  been  continued  ever  since, 
essentially  as  before,  in  the  idolatry,  impostures,  and 
abominations  of  the  Romish  church. 

79.  Seventhly,  That  Satan  was  the  contriver  and 
instigator  of  idolatry,  and  of  the  sorceries,  impostures 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  113 

and  abominations  employed  in  sustaining  it,  is  to  be 
inferred  from  what  is  plainly  taught  in  the  New  Tes- 
tament concerning  his  agency.  The  Apostle  Paul, 
in  forewarning  tlie  Thessalonians  of  the  apostacy  of 
the  Romish  church,  and  of  the  impious  pretensions 
and  character  of  its  idolized  head,  describes  the  de- 
fection as  a  mystery  of  iniquity,  and  the  coming  or 
manifestation  of  its  head — the  man  of  sin,  wicked  one, 
son  of  ])erdition — as  being  after  the  manner  of  the 
powerful  working  of  Satan,  with  signs,  lying  wonders, 
or  false  miracles,  and  all  deceits  of  unrighteousness, 
to  the  utter  delusion  and  condemnation  of  those  who 
believed  not  the  truth,  but  had  pleasure  in  unright- 
eousness; evidently  alluding  to  the  acts  and  practices 
which  he  was  known  to  have  employed  in  corrupting 
and  enticing  men  to  worship  and  serve  him,  and  yield 
themselves  to  the  spiritual  tyranny  and  empire  which 
he  swayed  over  the  world  of  idolaters  and  infidels. 
This  allusion  is  rendered  intelligible,  by  considering 
it  as  referring  to  the  signs,  miracles  and  enchantments, 
whether  real  or  only  apparent,  performed  by  the  ma- 
gicians of  Egypt,  in  opposition  to  Moses ;  and  to 
similar  prodigies  referred  to  in  the  Scriptures  and  by 
heathen  writers,  as  having  been  exhibited  in  support 
of  idolatry,  or  of  the  pretensions  of  false  teachers. 
The  Apostle  was  indicating  the  approach  of  a  defec- 
tion which  would  involve  impiety,  blasphemy  and 
wickedness,  more  glaring  and  monstrous  even,  than 
that  displayed  in  the  introduction  and  progress  of  the 
scheme  of  heathen  idolatry;  and  which,  therefore, 
required  a  cause,  an  agency,  a  boldness  and  subtlety 
of  like  nature  and  in  degree,  suited  to  the  case.  The 
working  of  Satan  was  known  to  have  accomplished 


114  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

the  earlier  defections;  his  more  powerful  working  was 
to  effect  this.  He  had  before  by  his  working,  deceiv- 
ed and  enticed  men  into  the  practice  of  idolatry  and 
the  worship  of  himself,  in  opposition  to  God;  he  was 
now  to  withstand,  pervert  and  corrupt  the  great  truths 
of  the  Gospel  as  declared  by  the  Apostles,  and  not 
only  to  induce  those  who  heard  and  professed  to  be- 
lieve them,  to  believe  lies  in  opposition  to  them,  and 
especially  the  monstrous  lie  of  transubstantiation ; 
and  thus,  in  contradiction  to  their  senses  and  reason, 
to  concede  to  the  priests  the  power  of  effecting  the 
alleged  change  at  will,  and  the  consequent  assump- 
tion of  power  to  forgive  sins,  and  save  or  destroy 
whom  they  pleased  ;  but  also  more  openly  to  acknow- 
ledge his  pretensions  to  supremacy,  omnipotence  and 
infallibility,  and  more  slavishly  to  worship,  submit  to 
and  serve  him,  than  the  ignorant  heathen  ever  did. 

80.  Conformably  to  what  is  here  alleged  of  the 
agency  of  Satan  in  procuring  the  apostacy  of  the 
Romish  church,  and  setting  himself  up  as  the  god  of 
their  idolatrous  worship,  and  the  instigator  of  their 
blasphemous  concessions  and  ascriptions  to  him,  and 
their  intolerance  and  persecution  of  their  fellow-men; 
our  Saviour  gave  notice  of  his  working,  announcing 
that  false  christs  and  false  prophets  should  arise,  and 
show  great  signs  and  wonders,  insomuch  that  if  it 
were  possible,  they  would  deceive  the  very  elect.  Of 
such,  there  are  notices  afterwards  by  the  Apostles,  and 
still  later  by  Christian,  heathen  and  infidel  writers, 
down  to  the  present  time. 

81.  He,  by  his  angels,  co-rebels  or  demons,  unde- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  115 

niably  actuated  and  spoke  by  tho  e  of  whom  he  took 
possession,  and  from  whom  he  was  cast  out  in  our 
Saviour's  time.  Of  these,  the  chief  or  prince  was 
called  Baal,  or  Beelzebub. — Matt.  xii.  Elymas  tlie 
sorcerer,  is  described  by  Paul  as  full  of  all  subtlety  and 
all  mischief,  child  of  the  devil,  enemy  of  all  right- 
eousness. His  conduct  indicated  his  true  character. 
He  withstood  Paul  and  Barnabas  when  preaching-  the 
word  of  God  to  the  deputy  of  Cyprus  at  his  request, 
and  endeavored  to  turn  him  away  from  the  faith. 
Paul,  filled  with  the  Holy  Ghost,  discerned  and  de- 
clared his  true  character,  and  by  an  instant  miracle 
he  was  smitten  with  blindness. 

82.  So  when  the  Jewish  exorcists  attempted  to  cast 
out  devils — evil  spirits,  confederate  with  Satan,  de- 
mons— by  pronouncing  over  the  possessed  the  name 
of  Jesus  whom  Paul  preached,  the  evil  spirit  exclaim- 
ed, Jesus  I  know,  and  Paul  I  know,  but  who  are  ye? 
Thus  at  once  defying  the  impostor,  and  acknowledg- 
ing the  power  and  authority  of  Jesus,  and  of  Paul  in 
his  name,  to  command  and  cast  him  out. 

83.  In  the  Apocalypse,  "the  dragon,*  that  old  ser- 

*  The  Greek  words  translated  "the  dragon,  the  old  serpent,  the 
devil,  the  evil  one,  the  tempter,  the  adversary,  the  prince  of  this 
world,  the  prince  of  the  power  of  the  air,  and  the  God  of  this  world," 
are  uniformly  used  to  discriminate  the  chief  and  leader  of  rebel  angels. 
The  words  commonly  translated  "devils,  and  a  devil,"  relate  to  the 
angels  of  the  devil,  demons,  foul  spirits.  To  the  latter,  the  demons, 
the  Evangelists  refer  in  every  instance  of  possession  and  casting  out. 
That  they  understood  and  meant  to  teach  that  these  unclean  spirits  or 
demons,  were  fallen  angels,  confederates  and  angels  of  the  devil,  work- 
ing in  his  cause,  is  quite  evident.     They  are  represented  as  the  causes 


116  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

pent  called  the  Devil  and  Satan,  who  deceiveth  the 
whole  world,"  is  represented,  chap,  xii.,  as  the  accus- 
er, enemy  and  persecutor  of  the  Saints;  and  in  chap, 
xiii.,  as  giving-  his  power,  seat  and  authority  to  the 
Beast  which  represented  the  Romish  church  or  hier- 
archy; and  it  is  declared  that  the  loorld  worshipped  the 
dragon  which  gave  power  unto  the  beast,  and  that 
they  worshipped  the  beast,  who  opened  his  mouth  in 
blasphemy  against  God,  to  blaspheme  his  name  and 
his  tabernacle,  and  them  that  dwell  in  heaven;  "and 
it  was  given  unto  him  to  make  war  with  the  saints, 
and  to  overcome  them;  and  power  was  given  him," 
that  is,  by  the  dragon,  "over  all  kindreds  and  tongues 
and  nations.  And  all  that  dwell  upon  the  earth  shall 
worship  Him,  whose  names  are  not  written  in  the 
book  of  life  of  the  Lamb  slain,  from  the  foundation  of 
the  world." 

84.  In  tliis  scene,  the  audacious  and  desperate 
struggle  of  Satan  for  continued  dominion  and  empire 
over  the  human  race ;    to  secure  to  himself  their  wor- 

of  the  most  direful  calamities  to  those  whom  they  possessed :  madness, 
palsy,  dumbness,  etc.;  as  having  malignant  passions,  and  as  being  con- 
scious of  their  doom  to  the  misery  and  torments  prepared  for  the 
devil.  None  of  these  things  could  be  affirmed  of  the  spirits  of  depart- 
ed heroes,  advanced  by  the  Pagans  to  the  rank  of  demons.  In  the 
Epistles  an  equally  malignant  agency  is  ascribed  to  them.  Paul  cau- 
tions Timothy  to  beware  of  those  who  would  endeavor  to  corrupt  the 
faith,  giving  heed  to  seducing  spirits  and  doctrines  of  demons;  doubt- 
less referring  to  those  fallen  angels  by  whom  the  mystery  of  iniquity 
was  instigated 

Satan,  the  Prince  of  the  demons  who  possessed  the  bodies  of  men, 
inflicted  outward  evils.  All  the  diseased  whom  our  Saviour  healed, 
are  declared  to  have  been  oppressed  by  the  Devil.  The  woman  who 
had  a  spirit  of  infii*mity,  is  said  to  have  been  bound  by  Satan. 


THE      MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  117 

ship  and  service,  and  to  oppose  and  exfeiminate  the 
followers  of  the  Lamb,  and  hinder  all  further  reforma- 
tion and  rescue  of  men  through  the  atonement  to  the 
worship  and  service  of  God,  is  vividly  portrayed.  The 
symbols  employed  strikingly  indicate  that  in  this 
Beast,  Satan  did  but  extend  the  dominion  he  had  long 
held  over  the  pagan  nations,  symbolized  also  by  beasts, 
to  the  apostate  faction  of  nominal  Christian  nations  of 
the  papal  Roman  empire.  In  the  chapters  referred 
to,  such  a  contrast  is  presented  between  the  followers 
of  the  Lamb,  who  overcame  by  his  blood  and  by  the 
word  of  their  testimony,  and  loved  not  their  lives  unto 
the  death,  and  the  worshippers  of  the  Dragon,  as  to 
leave  no  room  for  question,  that  they  whose  names 
were  not  written  in  the  hook  of  life,  worshipped  Satan 
and  served  him,  making  war  with  the  saints,  and 
joining  in  the  iniquities  and  blasphemies  of  the 
Romish  Beast,  or  Papacy. 

85.  In  the  thirteenth  chapter  also,  a  second  Beast 
appears,  auxiliary  to  the  first  or  that  which  symbo- 
lized the  idolatrous  papal  church,  exercising  the  same 
power,  and  instigating  the  inhabitants  of  the  earth  to 
worship  the  first  Beast,  performing  great  wonders  in 
the  sight  of  men,  and  deceiving  them  that  dwell  on 
the  earth  by  means  of  the  miracles  which  he  had 
power  to  do  in  the  sight  of  the  first  Beast,  and  ex- 
horting them  to  make  an  image  to  that  Beast,  thus 
giving  "  life  unto  the  image  of  the  Beast,  that  the 
image  of  the  Beast  should  both  speak  and  cause  that 
as  many  as  would  not  worship  the  image  of  the  Beast 
should  be  killed." 


118  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

86.  This  second  Beast  probably  symbolizes  the  In- 
quisition, by  which,  through  its  offices  and  its  two 
orders  of  agents,  ecclesiastic  and  mendicant,  ani- 
mation and  efficiency  were  imparted.  It  became  the 
executioner  by  delegated  authority,  of  the  designs 
of  the  first  Beast  in  respect  to  his  assumption  of 
superiority  to  all  earthly  power,  his  proscriptions  and 
persecutions,  and   his   suppression   of  the  Scriptures. 

To  establish  visible  idolatry,  and  compel  men  on 
pain  of  death  to  worship  images,  and  especially  the 
image  of  the  first  Beast,  was  a  leading  object  of  this 
subordinate  representative  of  Satan. 

87.  In  the  next  chapter  the  most  terrible  punish- 
ments, temporal  and  eternal,  are  denounced  upon 
those  who  should  worship  the  Beast  and  his  image  ; 
and  in  the  succeeding  one.  Chap,  xv.,  the  Saints 
are  referred  to  as  having  gained  the  victory  over  the 
Beast,  and  over  his  image.  "  They  sing  the  song  of 
Moses  the  servant  of 'God,  and  the  song  of  the 
Lamb,  &c."  Here  and  elsewhere  it  is  plainly  inti- 
mated that  the  great  controversy  to  which  man  is  a 
party,  is  waged  by  Satan  against  God  the  Mediator, 
and  that  all  who  are  not  followers  and  worshippers  of 
the  Lamb,  are  partisans  and  worshippers  of  Satan. 

88.  In  the  sixteenth  chapter,  the  unclean  spirits 
which  came  out  of  the  mouth  of  the  Dragon,  and  out 
of  the  mouth  of  the  Beast,  and  out  of  the  mouth  of  the 
false  prophet,  are  declared  to  be  "the  spirits  of  devils, 
working  miracles,  which  go  forth  unto  the  kings  of 
the  earth  and  of  the  world,"  &c. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL    WORK.  119 

89.  At  length,  chap,  xix.,  we  are  told  that,  "  the 
Beast  was  taken,  and  with  him  the  false  prophet  that 
wrought  miracles  before  him,  with  which  he  deceived 
them  that  had  received  the  mark  of  the  Beast,  and 
them  that  worshipped  his  image.  These  both  were 
cast  alive  into  a  lake  of  fire,"  &c. ;  a  result  strongly- 
confirming  all  that  has  been  indicated  respecting  the 
agency  of  Satan  in  the  great  scheme  of  idolatry  and 
opposition  to  Christ  and  his  followers,  which  has 
characterized  the  history  of  the  earth. 

90.  The  next  step  in  the  progress  of  this  scheme, 
after  seducing  men  to  acknowledge  and  worship 
other  Gods  in  defiance  of  the  authority  and  claims  of 
Jehovah,  was  that  of  making  and  bowing  down  to 
images  and  worshipping  animate  and  inanimate 
creatures,  in  direct  and  open  defiance  and  opposition 
to  the  prohibition  which  forms  the  second  article  of 
the  decalogue,  and  in  face  of  the  consequences  de- 
nounced upon  the  successive  generations  of  those  who 
practised  the  iniquity. 

91.  The  transition  or  advance  from  the  first  to  the 
second  stage  of  the  growing  apostacy  and  sway  of 
Satanic  rule,  was  easy  and  rapid.  Images,  idols, 
local  and  household  gods,  visible  representatives  of 
the  false  god,  Satan,  the  usurper,  prince  of  darkness, 
ruler  to  whom  they  yielded  themselves  captive,  be- 
gan to  be  made  at  an  early  period  after  the  flood, 
spread  into  different  countries,  and  prevailed  as  popu- 
lation advanced  over  the  whole  earth. 

92.  The  arch-enemy  thus  plunged   the  race  in  re- 


120  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

spect  to  their  religious  worship  and  service,  in  open 
and  daring  opposition  to  God,  and  in  bondage  to  His 
and  their  great  adversary,  the  Devil.  The  empire 
he  thus  acquired  he  has  held  to  the  present  time, 
reigning  in  the  hearts  of  all  unconverted  men,  and 
in  the  systems  and  rites  of  nearly  the  whole  Gentile 
world. 

93.  The  apostle  Paul  thus  notes  this  and  the  suc- 
ceeding steps  in  their  apostacy :  "  They  changed  the 
incorruptible  God  into  an  image  made  like  to  cor- 
ruptible man,  and  to  birds,  and  four-footed  beasts, 
and  creeping  things, — changed  the  truth  of  God  into 
a  lie,  and  worshipped  and  served  the  creature  more 
[rather]  than  the  Creator, — for  which  cause  God 
gave  them  up  unto  vile  affections  ; — and  even  as  they 
did  not  like  to  retain  God  in  their  knowledge,  God 
gave  them  over  to  a  reprobate  mind,  to  do  those 
things  which  are  not  convenient :  being  filled  with 
all  unrighteousness,  fornication,  wickedness,  covet- 
ousness,  maliciousness  :  full  of  envy,  murder,  debate, 
deceit,  malignity;  whisperers,  backbiters,  haters  of 
God,  despiteful,  proud,  boasters,  inventors  of  evil 
things,  disobedient  to  parents,  without  understand- 
ing, covenant  breakers,  without  natural  affection,  im- 
placable, mimerciful." 

This  description  briefly  marks  the  progress  of  the 
defection  and  the  lengths   to  which  it  was  carried. 

94.  The  third  leading  step  included,  as  its  chief 
characteristics,  blasphemy  and  blasiDhemous  practices, 
pretended  miracles,  and  prophecies,  magic,  sorceiy, 
and  the  like.     Hence  the  beast  which  in  the  Apoca- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  121 

lypse  symbolized  the  Dragon,  that  old  serpent  the 
Devil,  who  deceiveth  the  whole  world,  had  upon 
his  seven  heads  the  name  of  blasphemy  ;  and  opened 
his  mouth  in  blasphemy  against  God. 

95.  It  were  superfluous  to  add  an  extended  illus- 
tration of  this  feature  of  Idolatry.  It  has  been  promi- 
nent in  every  age,  and  under  all  the  forms  and  sys- 
tems of  lying  wonders. 

To  blaspheme  is  to  speak  evil  of  God,  to  misre- 
present him  in  words,  falsely  to  pretend  to  speak  or 
act  in  his  name,  to  counterfeit  the  exercise  of  his  pre- 
rogatives, attributes  or  power,  and  to  ascribe  his  acts 
to  creatures,  and  especially  to  ascribe  them  to  Satan. 

96.  To  assume  the  prerogatives,  attributes,  titles  or 
power  of  God  in  any  respect  or  manner;  to  pretend  to 
work  miracles,  or  to  foresee  and  predict  events  ;  or  to 
confer  the  gifts  which  are  exclusively  in  his  power, 
or  inflict  the  evils  due  to  sin  against  Him  ;  to  pretend 
to  bestow  or  withold  forgiveness  of  sin ;  to  have  autho- 
rity over  the  consciences  of  men,  or  over  their  souls 
after  death,  or  to  practice  sorcery,  divination,  or  other 
arts  which  imply  the  assumption  of  divine  attributes, 
is  blasphemy.  The  whole  history  of  idolatry  from 
the  beginning  to  the  present  time,  is  filled  with  in- 
stances of  this  daring  and  monstrous  impiety;  whereby 
the  worshippers  of  Satan  have,  in  all  possible  ways, 
openly  and  audaciously  taken  the  name  of  God  in  vain. 

97.  The  fourth  gradation  in  the  downward  progress 
of  this  stupendous  system  of  wickedness,  comprised 
the  abrogation  and  perversion  of  divine  institutions, 


122  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

and  prescription  of  additional  rites,  sacraments,  laws 
and  ordinances.  Fully  to  illustrate  this  topic  would 
recjuirc  a  volume.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  the  Sabbath 
is  and  ever  has  been  wholly  abrogated,  or  grossly 
perverted  and  profaned,  wherever  idolatry  has  pre- 
vailed ;  witness  more  especiall}''  the  idolatrous  Jews 
and  the  papists.  And  it  is  too  notorious  to  require 
particular  specifications,  that  every  divine  institution, 
prescription,  ordinance  and  sacrament,  having  refer- 
ence under  the  Mosaic  economy  to  sacrifices  and  other 
acts  of  worship,  spiritual  or  ceremonial ;  to  the  priest- 
hood, to  the  civil  autbority,  and  to  tlie  moral  and 
religious  relations  and  duties  of  man  to  God;  and  un- 
der the  New  Testament  to  the  mediation,  atonement, 
and  every  thing  pertaining  to  the  propbetic,  sacerdotal 
and  regal  offices  of  Christ,  and  the  constitution,  polity 
and  sacraments  of  his  church,  has  been  counterfeited, 
falsified,  perverted,  opposed,  denied  or  abrogated. 

98.  A  slight  reference  may  be  permitted  under  this 
head  to  the  system  of  popish  idolatry  and  priestcraft, 
which  combines  the  essence  and  all  the  principal  ele- 
ments, forms,  assumptions  and  iniquities  of  the  pagan 
systems  which  preceded  it. 

99.  The  doctrines,  precepts,  institutions  and  ordi- 
nances of  divine  authority  and  appointment,  are  made 
known  in  the  Holy  Scriptures.  To  render  the  suppres- 
sion, corruption  or  denial  of  them,  and  the  inculcation 
of  others  easy  and  effectual,  the  popish  system  witholds 
the  Scriptures  from  the  laity. 

100.  In  their  formularies  of  religious  doctrines  and 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  123 

moral  duties  which  purport  to  comprise  the  command- 
ments of  the  moral  law,  the  popish  authorities  wholly 
omit  the  second  command,  which  prohibits  the  making 
and  worshipping-  of  images. 

101.  To  the  sacraments  of  the  New  Testament  they 
add  five  others,  and  anathematize  all  who  add  to  or 
omit  either  of  them. 

102.  In  the  celebration  of  the  eucharist  they  refuse 
the  cup  to  the  laity.  They  pretend  to  change  the 
bread  and  wine,  at  the  will  of  the  priest,  into  the  body 
and  blood  of  Christ,  and  thus  to  create  God.  The 
compound  in  which  they  blasphemously  allege  that 
this  process  of  transubstantiation  takes  place,  is  in 
the  form  of  wafers,  which  they  call  the  Host.  This 
they  daily  offer  as  an  expiatory  sacrifice  for  the  sins 
of  mankind,  living  and  dead;  and  which  also  they 
require  the  congregation  to  adore  and  worship  as  God. 
The  service  called  the  sacrifice  of  the  mass  is  a  delibe- 
rate mockery  and  contempt  of  the  expiatory  sacrifice 
of  Christ;  being  employed  in  place  of  that  one  offering, 
or  as  a  substitute  for  it,  and  virtually  denying  its  reality 
or  efficacy ;  and  being  offered  daily  in  innumerable 
places,  like  the  sacrifices  of  the  heathen,  and  as  an 
atonement  for  the  sins  of  men  after  their  death,  as 
well  as  for  those  of  the  living.  The  pretended  tran- 
substantiation involves  the  assumption,  on  the  part  of 
the  priests,  of  miraculous  power;  contradicts  the  testi- 
mony of  the  senses,  and  thereby  virtually  denies  the 
reality,  or  rational  evidence,  of  all  Scripture  miracles; 
and  presents  the  monstrous  absurdities  and  falsehoods, 
of  a  part  of  the  body  of  Christ  being  equal  to  the 


124  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

whole;  of  the  same  body  being  alive  and  dead  at  the 
same  time;  and  of  its  being-  entire  and  whole  at  innu- 
merable different  places  at  the  same  instant. 

103.  Thus  the  devil  with  his  angels,  in  the  person 
of  the  Pope  with  his  priesthood,  exalts  himself  above 
all  that  is  called  God  oris  worshipped;  usurps  the 
place  and  prerogatives  of  God  as  his  vicegerent;  claims 
all  power,  spiritual  and  temporal,  even  that  of  creating 
God,  expiating  and  forgiving  sin,  prescribing  doctrines 
and  sacraments,  appointing  mediators  and  intercessors, 
and  delivering  the  souls  of  lost  men  after  their  death. 
In  the  exercise  of  this  usurped  power  and  asserted 
supremacy,  he  suppresses  the  Scriptures,  and  enjoins 
another  Gospel ;  and  is  in  all  things  antagonist  to 
Christ,  to  his  official  work,  his  kingdom  and  glory  ; 
counterfeiting,  perverting  or  denying  his  offices  and 
acts,  falsifying  his  revelations,  promises  and  threaten- 
ings ;  and,  in  a  word,  denying  and  blaspheming,  and 
treating  him  with  contempt ;  persecuting  and  seeking 
to  destroy  and  exterminate  his  followers. 

104.  To  carry  on  this  scheme  of  diabolical  contri- 
vance, he  claims  and  asserts  an  absolute  supremacy 
and  sovereignty  over  the  universal  church,  and  para- 
mount authority  over  political  and  civil  rulers  ;  and 
in  the  administration  of  his  prerogatives  in  respect 
to  doctrines,  sacraments,  and  all  ecclesiastical  and 
religious  matters,  he  claims  and  asserts  infallibility. 
These  assumptions  of  divine  attributes,  supported  by 
the  sword,  and  by  plenary  spiritual  power  over  thesouls 
of  men  on  earth  and  in  hell,  put  his  domination  and  his 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  125 

claims  to  worship  and  obedience  beyond  the  reach  of 
rival  interference  or  question  from  his  subjects. 

105.  As  a  means  of  giving-  outwardly  some  plausi- 
ble pretext  for  these  blasphemous  assumptions  and 
the  impious  doctrines  and  practices  of  image  worship, 
transubstantiation,  suppression  of  the  Scriptures,  pur- 
gatory, expiatory  sacrifices,  justification  by  works, 
penance,  prayers  for  the  dead,  celibacy  of  the  clergy, 
monasficism,  auricular  confession,  worship  of  the 
Virgin  Mary,  and  of  innumerable  saints,  &c.  &c.,  the 
possession  is  affirmed  of  traditions,  of  equal,  and  by 
virtue  of  the  pretended  infallibility  of  the  interpreter, 
of  superior  authority  to  the  Scriptures,  or  at  least 
necessary  to  a  right  interpretation  of  Scripture. 
The  pope  and  his  adlierents  consequently  allege  that 
the  Scriptures  without  the  pretended  traditions  are  not 
a  complete  and  sufficient  rule  of  faith  and  practice, 
and  can  be  understood  and  interpreted  only  by  the 
party  with  whom  the  traditions  and  the  attribute  of 
infallibility  are  lodged.  This  party  is,  in  a  general 
sense,  the  church,  or  as  occasion  requires,  ecclesastical 
councils,  but  always  and  chiefly  the  popes,  upon 
whose  succession  all  certainty  respecting  traditions 
and  the  interpretation  of  them  depends.  The  alleged 
traditions  have  been  written  and  published,  not  in 
full,  like  those  by  which  the  Jews  were  blinded  and 
deceived,  so  as  to  make  void  the  law,  but  in  part  in  the 
rescripts  of  popes,  the  decrees  of  councils,  &c.  ;  but 
there  remains  an  inexhaustible  treasure  of  them  in 
the  church,  and  in  the  custody  of  the  holy  fathers,  to 
be  used  in  all  future  times,  as  occasions  arise. 


126  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

106.  There  is asomewhatstriking-similarity between 
tlie  imposture  of  ihe  popish  liiciaichy  respecting  tra- 
ditions, and  that  to  which  the  Jews  were  for  the  like 
purpose  instigated.  They- assumed  and  asserted  that 
the  Avritten  Scriptures  were  defective  and  insutficient, 
and  that  for  the  right  understanding  and  explanation 
of  them  Moses  had  delivered  oral  precepts  and  inter- 
pretations, which,  equally  with  what  he  wrote,  were 
inspired  and  authoritative,  and  had  been  Iianded 
down  by  tradition.  The  presevration  of  this  oral  law, 
which  they  practically  regarded  as  of  more  authority 
than  the  written,  they  pretended  to  assi^gn  first  to  the 
whole  congregation,  next  to  the  Sanhedrim  (answer- 
ing to  the  popish  councils)  and  lastly  and  chiefly  to 
the  high  priest ;  which  method  served  till  the  break- 
ing up  of  their  polity,  when,  after  the  destruction  of 
their  temple  and  city,  they  caused  it  to  be,  not  in 
part,  like  the  papists,  but  wholly  written  out. 

107.  In  opposition  to  the  popish  doctrine  of  tradi- 
tions- and  the  boundless  license  of  assumption  and 
priestcraft  which  it  sanctions,  it  is  the  first  principle 
of  Protestantism  that  the  Holy  Scriptures  are  the  only 
and  all-suflicient  rule  of  faith  and  practice. 

108.  In  the  13th  chapter  of  the  Apocalypse,  the 
rise  of  this  diabolical  system  of  wickedness,  and,  to 
some  extent,  the  arrogance  and  power  of  the  Papac}^, 
are  indicated.  In  the  17th  and  18th  chapters,  that 
system  and  power  under  the  figure  of  a  woman,  sym- 
bolizing the  city  of  Rome,  mystical  Babylon,  the  mo- 
ther of  all  the  idolatries  and  abominations  of  Popery, 
sitting  on  the  beast  which  ascended  out  of  the  bottom- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  127 

less  pit,  and  repiesenting  or  personating-  the  papacy, 
are  more  fully  described  and  their  destruction  foretold, 
in  terms  which  plainly  show  that  Satan  was  the  insti- 
g-ator  and  chief  agent  of  the  entire  scheme.  "And  I 
saw  a  woman  sit  upon  a  scarlet-colored  beast,  full  of 
names  of  blasphemy,  having  seven  heads  and  ten 
horns;  and  the  woman  was  arrayed  in  purple  and 
scarlet-color,  and  decked  with  gold  and  precious  stones 
and  pearls,  having-  a  golden  cup  in  her  hand  full  of 
abominations  and  filthiness — and  upon  her  forehead 
was  a  name  written,  Mystery.,  Babylon  the  G)-eat,  the 
Mother  of  Harlots  and  ahomi7iations  of  the  earth.  And 
I  saw  the  woman  drunken  with  the  blood  of  the  saints, 
and  with  the  blood  of  the  martyrs  of  Jesus  ; — the  beast 
shall  ascend  out  of  the  bottomless  pit,  and  g-o  into 
perdition — the  seven  heads  are  seven  mountains  on 
which  the  woman  sitteth — the  ten  horns  are  ten  kings 
— and  the  woman  is  that  great  city  which  reigneth 
over  the  kings  of  the  earth.  Babylon  is  fallen,  is 
fallen,  and  is  become  the  habitation  of  devils,  and  the 
hold  of  every  foul  spirit — come  out  of  her,  my  people; 
that  ye  be  not  partakers  of  her  sins,  and  that  ye  re- 
ceive not  of  her  plagues.  Rejoice  over  her,  thou 
heavens  and  ye  holy  apostles  and  prophets,  for  God 
hath  avenged  you  on  her.  And  with  violence  shall 
that  great  city,  Babylon,  be  thrown  down — for  by  her 
sorceries  v/ere  all  nations  deceived.  And  in  her  was 
found  the  blood  of  prophets  and  of  saints,  and  of  all 
that  were  slain  upon  the  earth." 

109.  The  stupendous  scheme  of  idolatry,  arrogance 
and  dominion  exhibited  in  the  church  of  the  dragon 
or  Popish  beast,  is  in  all   points  antagonist  to  the 


128  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

church,  authority,  work,  kingdom,  person  and  glory 
of  Christ;  a  deceitful  counterfeit  and  rival  of  them  in 
design,  tendency  and  administration. 

110.  Of  the  next  and  succeeding  steps  in  the  pro- 
gress of  idolatry,  suffice  it  to  say,  that  they  coniprised 
every  species  of  immorality  and  wickedness  ;  but  most 
prominently,  perhaps,  those  expressly  forbidden  in 
the  moral  law,  and  in  the  precepts  of  the  Gospel. 
The  Apostle,  in  the  brief  specification  of  the  crimes  of 
the  heathen,  above  quoted,  enumerates  all  those  pro- 
hibited in  the  second  table  of  the  law:,  disobedience 
to  parents,  murder,  adultery,  stealing,  lying,  (cove- 
nant-breaking, deceit,  etc..)  covetousness. 

111.  Let  any  one  inform  himself  of  the  actual  state 
of  morals  in  any  community  of  pagan  idolaters,  an- 
cient or  modern,  and  whether  favored  with  the  lights 
of  science,  literature  and  arts,  as  Egypt  or  Greece  in 
their  early  and  most  prosperous  periods,  or  otherwise; 
let  him  consider  the  state  of  morals,  not  only  among 
the  ignorant  multitude,  but  among  the  best  informed, 
the  rulers,  the  philosophers,  and  especially  the  priests; 
and  he  will  be  forced  to  conclude  that  they  are  held 
in  bondage  to  the  evil  one,  and  urged  on  in  the  indul- 
gence of  their  depraved  passions,  by  diabolical  influ- 
ence. How  else  can  the  various  unnatural  crimes,  so 
notoriously  tolerated  and  practiced  in  such  communi- 
ties, or  the  incredible  corruption  and  degradation  of 
worshipping  and  sacrificing  to  objects  which  they  con- 
ceive to  be  personifications  of  vice,  impiety  and  ma- 
levolence, be  accounted  for?  Or  let  him  consider  the 
case  of  the  Popish  hierarchy  and  community  during 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  129 

the  period  of  imchccked  domination  prior  to  the  Re- 
formation, when,  if  the  very  h'mitcd  disclosures  which 
have  heen  published,  are  at  all  to  be  relied  on,  the 
utmost  extravagance  of  impiety  and  licentiousness 
reigned  alike  among  ecclesiastics  and  people,  espe- 
cially in  Rome,  the  seat  of  the  beast ;  impiety  and 
licentiousness,  in  which,  without  disguise  or  shame, 
popes,  cardinals  and  bishops  led  the  way — rioting  in 
beastly  indulgences,  and  making  a  mock  of  all  sacred 
things. 

112.  A  late  writer  thus  characterizes  Popery  as 
Satan's  master-piece:  "The  Papacy — that  deepest 
conception,  and  mightiest  achievement  of  Satan;  into 
which  he  hath  admitted  the  whole  canon  of  truth, 
and  yet  contrived  that  it  should  teach  only  error;  into 
which  he  hath  admitted  the  whole  revelation  of  light, 
and  yet  contrived  that  it  should  breed  only  foul  and 
pestilent  darkness.  Oh!  it  is  an  ample  net  for  catch- 
ing men,  a  delusion  and  bondage  made  for  the  world! 
No  partial  error,  like  that  of  the  Gnostics,  framed  out 
of  mystic  imaginations — or  that  of  the  Arians,  framed 
out  of  the  proud  arguments  of  reason — or  that  of  the 
Munster  Anabaptists,  framed  out  of  the  licentiousness 
of  the  will;  but  a  stupendous  deception,  and  universal 
counterfeit  of  truth,  which  hath  a  chamber  for  every 
natural  faculty  of  the  soul,  and  an  occupation  for  every 
energy  of  the  natural  spirit.  Pagan  Rome  is  Satan's 
work,  constructed  with  his  own  materials  of  ambition, 
arms,  policy  and  knowledge;  but  Papal  Rome  is  Sa- 
tan's work,  constructed  with  the  materials  of  God 
revealed  in  his  holy  word." — Monk  of  Cimies» 


130  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

113.  "We  form  no  consistent  idea  of  the  Papacy, 
unless  we  distinctly  admit  into  our  conception  of  it 
the  pretension  to  a  perpetual  supernatural  efficacy, 
attending  it  in  every  step  and  act,  and  vivifying  its 
whole  frame-work  of  offices,  worship  and  administra- 
tions. The  very  highest  profession  of  spirituality,  and 
of  immediate  divine  agency,  and  of  continued  miracu- 
lous authentication  and  support,  is  the  ground  which 
the  Romish  despotism  assumes;  nor  can  it  defend  itself 
a  moment,  if  this  ground  be  abandoned.  The  infalli- 
bility of  the  Pope  ;  the  real  presence  in  the  eucharist; 
the  unvarying  efficacy  of  the  sacraments;  the  succes- 
sion of  miracles  and  powers  of  healing;  the  efficacy 
of  the  intercession  of  the  saints;  the  patronage  of  in- 
dividuals and  of  communities  by  the  saints;  the  power 
of  masses  for  the  release  of  souls;  the  priest's  authority 
to  remit  sin  and  to  bind  it ;  and,  indeed,  every  dogma 
and  practice  of  the  church,  is  a  portion  and  proper 
consequence  of  the  one  doctrine,  that  the  [papal] 
church  is  a  divine  institution,  maintained  and  admin- 
istered, from  age  to  age,  by  the  very  same  almighty 
energy  that  gave  it  birth.  This  doctrine  is,  in  fact, 
the  core  of  Popery:  genuine  Protestantism  is  its  op- 
posite."— Spiritual  Despotism.)  p.  234. 

114.  In  whatever  point  of  view  we  consider  the 
heathen  and  popisli  systems  of  idolatry,  their  charac- 
ter and  objects,  we  shall  be  forced  to  conclude  that 
they  owe  their  origin  and  continuance  to  Satan. 

They  are  in  all  respects  at  war  with  the  true  inter- 
ests and  welfare  of  the  human  race,  and  on  that 
ground  claim  him  as  their  author  and  patron. 

They  are  in  all  respects  antagonist  to  the  work  of 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  131 

Christ,  and  the  salvation  of  those  redeemed  by  him; 
and  for  that  reason,  are  to  be  ascribed  to  Satan. 

Their  final  overthrow  and  extinction  is  to  be  the 
consequence  of  Christ's  victory  over  Satan  ;  when  he 
will  establish  his  own  king-dom  and  dominion,  deliv- 
ered from  all  enemies,  freed  from  all  delusion,  impos- 
ture and  corruption.  In  this  victory,  his  divinity  and 
supremacy  over  all  creatures  are  to  be  most  signally 
vindicated. 

115.  The  dominion  and  lordship  of  the  Mediator 
over  all  creatures  is  declared  in  the  Scriptures,  in 
connection  with  his  titles  and  endowments  of  office 
and  authority,  and  with  the  purposes  of  his  mediation. 
He  was  appointed  heir  of  all  things.  All  power  in 
heaven  and  earth  was  given  unto  him.  Angels,  autho- 
rities and  powers  were  made  subject  unto  him. — Epii. 
i.  20,  22;  Phil.  ii.  9-11;  Psalm  viii.  6;  1  Pet.  iii. 
22,  &c. 

116.  Hence  we  are  not  only  taught  that  his  lordship, 
rule  and  dominion  extends  over  holy  angels  and  men, 
but  also  over  the  fallen  angels,  and  that  his  control 
and  victory  over  them  are  signalized  by  public  and 
visible  manifestations  of  his  power.  Thus  Col.  ii.  15  : 
"  Having  spoiled  principalities  and  powers  he  made 
a  show  of  them  openl}^,  triumphing  over  them  in  it" 
— paraphrased  by  MacKnight,  as  follows:  "Having 
spoiled  evil  angels  of  every  denomination,  of  their 
usurped  power,  Christ  hath  showed  them  openly  as 
vanquished,  triumphing  over  theni  by  his  cross." 
And  in  his  notes,  i  aving  in  view  the  early  progress 
of  the  Gospel,  and  referring  to  Ephesicins,  iv.  8,  he 


132  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

observes  that,  "  By  lurnin!^-  the  heathens  from  the 
power  of  Satan  to  God,  Christ  showed  that  the  evil 
spirits,  who  formerly  ruled  them,  were  vanquished  and 
stripped  of  tlieir  power;"  and  referring-  to  2  Cor.  ii. 
14,  that  St.  Paul  "  represents  Christ  himself  or  his 
apostles,  as  riding  in  triumph  through  the  world,  with 
the  evil  spirits  following  the  triumplial  car  in  chains, 
and  exposed  to  public  view  as  vanquished  enemies." 
Again,  "  The  evil  angels,  by  exciting  the  Jews  to 
crucify  Christ,  thought  they  had  put  an  end  to  his 
pretensions  ;  but  by  his  death,  having  spoiled  them  of 
their  usurped  dominion,  he  triumphed  over  them  by 
the  cross."  Agreeably  to  all  which,  our  Lord  speak- 
ing to  his  disciples  of  his  own  death,  said,  John  xii. 
31,  "  Now  shall  the  ruler  of  this  world  be  cast  out;" 
and  xvi.  11,  "  the  ruler  of  this  world  is  judged." 

117.  In  harmony  with  all  this  it  may  be  observed 
that  the  extraordinary  policy  and  proceedings  of  Satan, 
during  our  Lord's  public  ministry — his  taking  pos- 
session of  the  bodies  of  men,  as  if  to  counterfeit  the 
incarnation,  and  avail  himself  of  outward  and  visible 
means  of^deceiving  men,  and  opposing  the  Mediator, 
were  no  less  openly  and  publicly  thwarted  and  ex- 
posed. He  was  cast  out,  and  his  subjection  to  the 
authority  and  power  of  Christ  was  publicly  manifested. 

118.  "That  Christ  should  conquer  fallen  angels, 
was  promised  from  the  foundation  of  the  world.  Gen. 
iii.  15.  The  seed  of  the  woman,  the  Messiah,  was 
to  break  the  serpent's  head,  despoil  him  of  his  power, 
and  bring  him  into  subjection;  which  he  performed 
accordingly,  Col.  ii.  15.     'He  spoiled  principalities 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  133 

and  powers.'  The  New  Testament  is  full  of  instances, 
as  to  his  executing  liis  power  and  authority  over  evil 
angels.  Man,  having  sinned  by  the  instigation  of 
Satan,  was,  by  the  just  judgment  of  God,  delivered 
up  to  his  power,  Hcb.  xi.  14.  The  Lord  Christ 
undertaking  to  recover  lost  man  from  under  his  power, 
by  destroying  his  works,  1  John  iii.  8  and  to  bring 
them  again  into  favor  with  God,  Satan  with  all  his 
might  sets  himself  to  oppose  him  in  this  work,  and 
failing  in  his  enterprise,  being  utterly  conquered,  he 
became  absolutely  subjected  unto  him,  trodden  under 
his  feet." — Owen  on  the  Lordship  of  Christy  p.  365  ab. 

119.  In  respect  to  this  prolonged  and  mighty  con- 
flict, it  remains  to  notice  it  in  relation  to  individuals 
who  are  reclaimed  from  the  service  of  Satan,  and  in 
relation  to  the  final  victory  and  triumph  of  the  Me- 
diator. Sinners  who  are  converted,  are  delivered 
from  the  power  of  Satan  and  brought  out  of  his  king- 
dom into  the  kingdom  of  Christ.  They  renounce 
their  allegiance  to  Satan,  turn  from  their  rebellion, 
are  reconciled  to  God,  and  worship,  serve,  and  obey 
him.  They  renounce  Satan  and  his  works,  and 
thenceforth  resist  and  oppose  his  attacks  upon  them, 
his  secret  wiles,  his  fiery  darts,  his  malignant  influ- 
ence, his  imposing,  deceitful,  and  ceaseless  tempta- 
tions. In  the  deliverance  of  souls  from  bondage  to 
Satan  there  is  a  manifestation  of  Divine  power,  com- 
parable to  that  exhibited  in  the  resurrection  of  Christ 
from  the  dead:  they  are  rescued  from  captivity  ;  the 
power  of  Satan,  their  captor,  is  overcome. 

120.  The  final  vanquishment  of  this  powerful  and 


134  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

malignant  adversary  and  all  his  adlierents,  is  depicted 
as  the  result  of  a  terrific  encounter,  a  conflict  and  tri- 
umph, in  the  view  of  the  whole  universe.  From  the 
opening  heaven  the  Son  of  God  appears  in  the 
majesty  and  glory  of  his  mediatorial  character,  fol- 
lowed by  hosts  of  his  redeemed  people.  His  eyes  are 
as  a  flame  of  fire  ;  on  his  head  are  many  crowns, 
which,  with  his  incommunicable  name,  indicate  his 
Divinity.  His  vesture  is  dipped  in  blood,  by  which 
and  his  name,  "  the  Word  of  God,"  his  incarnation 
and  atonement  are  signified.  Out  of  his  mouth  goetli 
a  sharp  sword,  by  which  and  the  name  ''  King  of 
kings  and  Lord  of  lords,"  his  regal  ofl5ce  is  repre- 
sented. The  beast,  the  Romish  papal  power  and  its 
confederates,  the  kings  of  the  earth  and  their  armies, 
are  gathered  together  to  make  war  against  him  who 
thus  gloriously  appears  with  all  power  in  heaven 
and  earth.  The  beast,  the  vicegerent  of  Satan,  and 
his  adherents,  are  taken  and  cast  alive  into  a  lake  of 
fire.  "  The  dragon,  that  old  serpent,  Avhich  is  the 
devil  and  Satan,"  is  cast  into  ilie  bottomless  pit,  and 
confined  "  that  he  should  deceive  the  nations  no 
more  "  till  loosed  again  after  a  thousand  years,  to 
give  for  a  brief  space  new  proofs  of  his  unsubdued 
malignity,  and  his  influence  over  fallen  men,  when 
he  is  again  cast  with  all  the  agents  of  wickedness  into 
the  lake  of  fire  to  be  tormented  for  ever  and  ever. 

Thus  is  that  Scripture  fulfilled  which  declares,  that 
the  Son  of  God  was  manifested  that  he  might  destroy 
the  works  of  the  devil.  Michael,  the  great  prince  of 
the  redeemed,  and  his  angels,  fought  against  the 
dragon  ;  and  the  dragon  fought,  and  his  angels,  and 
prevailed  not,  but  were  cast  down. 


CHAPTER    III. 


PART    SECOND. 


1.  President  Edwards,  in  his  history  of  the  Work  of 
Redemption,  takes  a  comprehensive  A-ievv  ofvthe  prin- 
cipal events  and  dispensations  iii  the  jirogress  of  that 
work  as  carried  forward  by  the  Mediator,  and  of  the 
opposing-  ag-ency  of  Satan  as  his  antagonist.  With 
tlie  ex'ception  that  he  considers  the  work  of  mediation 
as  having  commenced  at  the  fall,  his  views  appear  to 
be  generally  similar  to  those  expressed  herein.  He 
considers  the  work  of  redemption  as  including  not 
only  all  the  works  of  Providence  and  grace  after  the 
fall,  but  all  that  were  preparatory  and  in  order  to 
it,  as  the  creation  of  the  universe — of  angels  to  be 
employed  in  connection  with  this  work,  of  men  to  be 
subjects  of  it — and  the  eternal  counsels  and  covenant 
in  which  the  whole  originated.  And  he  considers  the 
second  person  of  the  Trinity,  in  his  mediatorial  office, 
as  the  only  medium  of  divine  manifestation,  by  whom 
alone  the  Invisible  One,  the  Divinity,  is  made  known 
to  angels  or  men.  To  him  he  ascribes  pre-eminence 
in  all  things,  "  For  tliis  great  work  of  redemption  is 
all  his  work  :  He  is  the  great  Redeemer,  and  there- 
fore the  work  of  redemption  being,  as  it  were,  the 
sum  of  God's  works  of  providence,  this  shows  the 
glory  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  being  above  all,  and 
through  all,   and  in  all.      That  God   intended   the 


136        '     THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

world  for  his  Son's  use,  in  the  affair  of  redemption, 
is  one  reason  that  is  to  be  given  why  he  created  the 
world  by  him  ;"  vol.  2,  p.  387.  To  Christ  as  Media- 
tor, by  whom  all  the  manifestations  of  the  Divine 
perfections  are  made,  he  ascribes  all  the  Divine  ap- 
pearances to  the  patriarchs,  to  Moses,  the  children  of 
Israel,  the  prophets,  and  others,  recorded  in  the  Old 
Testament :  and  he  necessarily,  from  these  views, 
treats  his  work  as  consisting  of  outward  and  visible 
manifestations  to  angels  and  men. 

2.  The  following  extracts  from  the  treatise  referred 
to,  Works  vol.  2,  ed.  of  1808,  will  exhibit  his  views 
on  these  topics  : 

"  When  I  say,  this  work  of  redemption  is  carried 
on  from  the  fall  of  man  to  the  end  of  the  world,  it  is 
not  meant,  that  nothing  was  done  in  order  to  it  be- 
fore the  fall  of  man.  There  were  many  things  done 
in  order  to  this  work  of  redemption  before  that.  Some 
things  were  done  before  the  world  was  created  ;  yea, 
from  all  eternity.  The  persons  of  the  Trinity  were, 
as  it  were,  confederated  in  a  design  and  a  covenant 
of  redemption ;  in  which  covenant  the  Father  had 
appointed  the  Son,  and  the  Son  had  undertaken  the 
work  ;  and  all  things  to  be  accomplished  in  the  work 
were  stipulated  and  agreed.  And  besides  these,  there 
were  things  done  at  the  creation  of  the  world,  in  order 
to  that  work,  before  man  fell ;  for  the  world  itself 
seems  to  have  been  created  in  order  to  it.  The  work 
of  creation  was  in  order  to  God's  works  of  providence; 
so  that  if  it  be  inquired,  which  of  these  kinds  of  works 
is  the  greatest,  the  works  of  creation  or  the  works  of 
providence  ?  I  answer,  the  works  of  providence  ;  be- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL    WORK.  137 

cause  God's  works  of  providence  are  the  end  of  his 
works  of  creation,  as  the  building  an  house,  or  the 
forming"  an  engine  or  machine,  is  its  use.  But  God's 
main  work  of  providence  is  this  great  work. 

"  The  creation  of  heaven  was  in  order  to  the  work 
of  redemption :  it  was  to  be  an  habitation  for  the  re- 
deemed— Matt.  XXV.  34.  Then  shall  the  King  say 
unto  them  on  his  right  hand,  Come  ye  blessed  of  my 
Father,  inherit  the  kingdom  prepared  for  you  from 
the  foundation  of  the  world  ;"  p.  14,  15. 

3.  One  of  the  chief  things  designed  to  be  effected 
by  the  work  of  redemption,  "  is  to  put  all  God's  ene- 
mies under  his  feet,  and  that  the  goodness  of  God 
should  finally  appear  triumphing  over  all  evil.  Soon 
after  the  world  was  created,  evil  entered  into  the 
world  in  the  fall  of  the  angels  and  man.  Presently 
after  God  had  made  rational  creatures,  there  were 
enemies  who  rose  up  against  him  from  among  them  ; 
and  in  the  fall  of  man  evil  entered  into  this  lower 
world,  and  God's  enemies  rose  up  against  him  here. 
Satan  rose  up  against  God,  endeavoring  to  frustrate 
his  design  in  the  creation  of  this  lower  world,  to  de- 
stroy his  workmanship  here,  and  to  wrest  the  govern- 
ment of  this  lower  world  out  of  his  hands,  and  usurp 
the  throne  himself,  and  set  up  himself  as  god  of  this 
world  instead  of  the  God  that  made  it.  And  to  these 
ends  he  introduced  sin  into  the  world  ;  and  having 
made  man  God's  enemy,  he  brought  guilt  on  man, 
and  brought  death  and  the  most  extreme  and  dreadful 
misery  into  the  world. 

*'  Things  were  originally  so  planned  and  designed, 
that  he  might  disappoint,  and  confound,  and  triumph 
over  Satan,  and  that  he  might  be  bruised  under  Christ's 


138  THE     MEDIATORIAL      WORK. 

feet — Gen.  iii.  15.  The  promise  was  given,  that  tlie 
seed  of  the  woman  should  bruise  the  serpent's  head. 
It  was  a  part  of  God's  original  design  in  this  work,  to 
destroy  the  works  of  the  devil,  and  confound  him  in 
all  his  purposes,  1  John  iii.  8,  '  For  this  purpose  was 
the  Son  of  God  manifested,  that  he  might  destroy  the 
works  of  the  devil.'  It  was  a  part  of  his  design,  to 
triumph  over  sin  and  over  the  corruptions  of  man,  and 
to  root  them  out  of  the  hearts  of  his  people  by  con- 
forming them  to  himself." — p.  19,  20. 

4.  "  God's  design  was  perfectly  to  restore  all  the 
ruins  of  the  fall,  so  far  as  concerns  the  elect  part  of 
the  world  by  his  Son.  Man's  soul  was  ruined  by  the 
fall ;  the  image  of  God  was  ruined  ;  man's  nature  was 
corrupted  and  destroyed,  and  man  became  dead  in 
sin.  The  design  of  God  was  to  restore  the  soul  of 
man ;  to  restore  life  to  it,  and  the  image  of  God,  in 
conversion,  and  to  carry  on  the  restoration  in  sancti- 
fication,  and  to  perfect  it  in  glory.  Man's  body  was 
ruined  ;  by  the  fall  it  became  subject  to  death.  The 
design  of  God  was  to  restore  it  from  this  ruin,  and  not 
only  to  deliver  it  from  death  in  the  resurrection,  but 
to  deliver  it  from  mortality  itself,  in  making  it  like 
unto  Christ's  glorious  body.  The  world  was  ruined, 
as  to  man,  as  effectually  as  if  it  had  been  reduced  to 
chaos  again  ;  all  heaven  and  earth  was  overthrown. 
But  the  design  of  God  was  to  restore  all,  and  as  it 
were  to  create  a  new  heaven  and  a  new  earth.  Isa. 
Ixv.  17 :  '  Behold  I  create  new  heavens  and  a  new 
earth ;  and  the  former  shall  not  be  remembered  nor 
come  into  mind.'  2  Peter,  iii.  13  :  "  Nevertheless, 
we,  according  to  his  promise,  look  for  new  heavens 
and  a  new  earth,  wherein  dwelleth  righteousness.' 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  139 

"  Another  great  design  of  God  in  the  Avork  of  re- 
demption, was  to  gather  together  in  one  all  things  in 
Christ,  in  heaven  and  in  earth,  i.  e.  all  elect  crea- 
tures."—p.  20,  21. 

5.  "As  soon  as  ever  man  fell,  Christ  entered  on 
his  mediatorial  work.  He  had  undertaken  it  before 
the  world  was  made.  He  stood  engaged  with  the 
Father  to  appear  as  man's  JNIediator,  and  to  take  on 
him  that  office  when  tliere  should  be  occasio  n,  from 
all  eternity.  But  now  the  time  was  come,"  &c., 
p.  26.  [It  is  humbly  conceived  that  he  who  executed 
the  office  of  Mediator,  and  did  all  that  was  to  be  done 
preparatory  thereto,  commenced  his  mediatorial  work, 
not  at  the  fall,  but  at  the  creation,  w  hich  was  prepa- 
ratory and  in  order  to  the  works  of  Providence.] 

6.  "  When  Satan,  the  grand  enemy,  had  con- 
quered and  overthrown  man,  the  business  of  resisting 
and  conquering  him  w^as  committed  to  Christ.  He 
thenceforward  undertook  to  manage  that  subtle, 
powerful  adversary.  He  was  then  appointed  the 
captain  of  the  Lord's  hosts — this  lower  world,  with 
all  its  concerns  was,  as  it  were,  devolved  upon  the 
Son  of  God  :  for,  when  man  sinned,  God  the  Father 
would  have  no  more  to  do  with  man  immediately;  he 
would  no  more  have  any  immediate  concern  w'ith 
this  world  of  mankind  that  had  apostatized  from  him, 
and  rebelled  against  him.  He  would  henceforward 
have  no  concern  with  man  but  only  through  a  Medi- 
ator, cither  in  teaching  men,  or  in  governing  or  bestow- 
ing any  benefits  on  them."  [Nor  does  it  appear  that  he 
had  anything  to  do  with  them  before,  any  more  than 


140  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

after  the  fall,  except  through  the  Mediator  ;]  "and, 
therefore,  when  we  read  in  sacred  history  what  God 
did  from  time  to  time  towards  his  church  and  people, 
and  what  he  said  to  them,  and  how  he  revealed  him- 
self to  them,  we  are  to  understand  it  especially  of  the 
second  person  of  the  Trinity.  When  we  read  of 
God's  appearing  after  the  fall  from  time  to  time,  in 
some  visible  form  or  outward  symbol  of  his  presence, 
we  are  ordinarily,  if  not  universally,  to  understand  it 
of  the  second  person  of  the  Trinity,  which  may  be 
argued  from  John  i.  18  :  'No  man  hath  seen  God 
at  any  time;  the  only  begotten  Son,  which  is  in  the 
bosom  of  the  Father,  he  hath  declared  him.'  He  is 
therefore  called,  '  the  image  of  the  invisible  God,' 
Col.  i.  15,  intimating,  that  though  God  the  Father 
be  invisible,  yet  Christ  is  his  image  or  representation, 
by  which  he  is  seen,  or  by  which  the  church  of  God, 
hatli  often  had  a  representation  of  him  that  is  not  in- 
visible, and  in  particular,  that  Christ  has  often  ap- 
peared in  a  human  form.  Yea,  not  only  was  this 
lower  world  devolved  on  Christ,  that  he  might  have 
the  care  and  government  of  it,  and  order  it  agreeably 
to  his  design  of  redemption  ;  but  also,  in  some  re- 
spects, the  whole  universe.  The  angels,  from  that 
time,  were  committed  to  him  in  his  mediatorial 
office,"  &c.  p.  27.  [From  what  follows  respecting 
their  being  ministering  spirits  in  the  affairs  of  the 
church,  it  must  be  inferred  that  they  were  committed 
or  subject  to  him  before  the  fall.] — "  Presently  upon 
the  fall  the  Gospel  was  first  revealed  on  earth. — Gen. 
iii.  15.  We  must  suppose,  that  God's  intention  of 
redeeming  fallen  man  was  first  signified  in  heaven, 
before  it  was  signified  on  earth,  because,  the  business 
of  angels  as  ministering  spirits  required  it." — 'p,  28. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  141 

7.  "  Thus,  it  is  exceedingly  probable,  if  not 
evident,  that  as  Christ  took  on  him  the  work  of 
Mediator  as  soon  as  man  fell ;  so  he  now  immediate- 
ly began  his  work  of  redemption  in  its  effect,  and 
that  he  immediately  encountered  his  great  enemy  the 
Devil,  whom  he  had  undertaken  to  conquer,  and  res- 
cued those  two  fnst  captives  out  of  his  hands  ;  therein 
baffling  him,  soon  after  his  triumph,  for  the  victory  he 
had  obtained  over  them,  whereby  he  had  made  them 
his  captives.  And  though  he  was,  as  it  were,  sure  of 
them  and  all  tlieir  posterity,  Christ  the  Redeemer 
soon  showed  him  that  he  was  mistaken,  and  that  he 
was  able  to  subdue  him,  and  deliver  fallen  man." — 
p.  35. 

8.  "  The  Church  of  God,  that  used  to  be  a  restraint 
on  the  wicked  world,  diminished  exceedingly,  [after 
the  days  of  Enoch],  and  so  wickedness  went  on  with- 
out restraint.  And  Satan,  that  old  serpent  the  Devil, 
that  tempted  our  first  parents,  and  set  up  himself 
as  god  of  this  world,  raged  exceedingly;  and  every 
imagination  of  the  thoughts  of  man's  heart  was  only 
evil  continually,  and  the  earth  was  fdled  with  vio- 
lence. It  seemed  to  be  deluged  with  Avickedness, 
as  it  was  with  water  afterwards ;  and  mankind,  in 
general,  wer3  drowned  in  this  deluge ;  almost  all 
were  swallowed  up  in  it.  And  now  Satan  made  a 
most  violent  and  potent  attempt  to  swallow  up  the 
Church  of  God ;  andhad  almost  done  it." — pp.  43,  44. 

9.  "  Satan  seems  to  have  been  in  a  dreadful  rage 
just  before  the  flood,  and  his  rage  then  doubtless  was, 
as  it  always  has  been,  chiefly  against  the    church  of 


142  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

God  to  overlhiow  it;  and  he  had  filled  the  earth  with 
violence  and  rage  against  it.  He  had  drawn  over 
almost  all  the  world  to  be  on  his  side,  and  they  listed 
under  his  banner  against  Christ  and  his  church. 
We  read,  that  'the  earth  was  filled  with  violence,' 
and  doubtless,  that  violence  was  chiefly  against  the 
chinch,  in  fulfillment  of  what  was  foretold,  I  icill put 
enmity  between  thy  seed  and  her  seed.'''' — p.  45. 

10.  "The  land  of  Canaan  was  the  most  con- 
veniently situated  of  any  place  in  the  world  for  the 
purpose  of  spreading  the  light  of  the  Gospel.  The 
Devil  seeing  the  advantage  of  this  situation  of  the 
nations  for  promoting  the  great  work  of  redemption, 
and  the  disadvantage  of  it  with  respect  to  the  interests 
of  his  kingdom,  afterwards  \i.  e.  after  the  confusion 
of  Babel],  led  away  many  nations  into  the  remotest 
parts  of  the  world,  to  that  end,  to  get  them  out  of  the 
way  of  the  Gospel.  Thus,  he  led  some  into  America ; 
and  others  into  northern  cold  regions,  that  are  almost 
inaccessible." — p.  52. 

11.  "  Because  this  great  mystery  of  the  incarnation 
and  sufferings  of  Christ  was  here  representad,  [in  the 
burning  bush]  therefore,  Moses  says,  '  I  will  turn 
aside  and  behold  this  great  sight.'  A  great  sight  he 
might  well  call  it,  when  there  was  represented  God 
manifest  in  the  flesh,  and  suffering  a  dreadful  death 
and  rising  from  the  dead.  This  glorious  Redeemer 
was  he  that  redeemed  the  church  out  of  Egypt,  from 
under  the  hand  of  Pharaoh  ;  as  Christ  b)'^  his  death 
and  sufferings,  redeemed  his  people  from  Satan,  the 
spiritual   Pharaoh.     In  that  redemption,    Christ  did 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  143 

not  only  redeem  the  people  from  the  Egyptians,  but 
he  redeemed  them  from  the  devils,  the  gods  of  Egypt; 
for  befoie,  they  had  been  in  a  state  of  servitude  to 
the  gods  of  Egypt,  as  well  as  to  the  men.  And 
Christ,  the  seed  of  the  woman,  did  now  in  a  very  re- 
markable manner  fulfil  the  cmse  on  the  serpent  in 
bruising  his  head.  Exod.  xii.  12  :  '  For,  I  will  pass 
through  the  land  of  Egypt  this  night,  and  will  smite 
all  the  first  born  in  the  land  of  Egypt,  both  man  and 
beast,  and  against  all  the  gods  of  Egypt  will  I  exe- 
cute judgment.'  Hell  was  as  much  and  more  en- 
gaged in  that  affair  than  Egypt  was.  The  pride  and 
cruelty  of  Satan,  that  old  serpent,  was  more  concern- 
ed in  it  than  Pharaoh's.  He  did  his  utmost  against 
the  people,  and  to  his  utmost  opposed  their  re- 
demption. But  it  is  said,  that  when  God  redeemed 
his  people  out  of  Eg)"pt,  he  broke  the  heads  of  the 
dragons  in  the  waters,  and  broke  the  head  of  Le- 
viathan in  pieces,  and  gave  him  to  be  meat  for  the 
people  inhabiting  the  wilderness.  Psalms  Ixxiv.  12, 
14 :  '  The  people  of  Israel  went  out  with  an  high 
hand,  and  Christ  went  before  them  in  a  pillar  of 
cloud  and  fire.'  There  was  a  glorious  triumph  over 
earth  and  hell  in  that  deliverance.  And  when 
Pharaoh  and  his  hosts,  and  Satan  by  them,  pursued 
the  peole,  Christ  overthrew  them  in  the  Red  Sea." 
-p.  71. 

12.  "  The  true  religion  lasted  among  some  other 
people,  besides  the  Israelites,  a  while  after  Abraham. 
But  it  did  not  last  long;  and  it  is  probable  tiiat  the 
time  of  their  total  rejection,  and  giving  up  to  idolatry, 
was  about  the  time  when  God  separated  the  children 


144  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

of  Israel  from  Egypt  to  serve  bim  ;  for  they  are  often 
put  in  mind  on  that  occasion,  that  God  liad  now  sepa- 
rated them  to  be  bis  peculiar  people;  or  to  be  distin- 
guished from  all  other  people  npon  earth,  to  be  his 
people  alone ;  to  be  his  portion  when  others  were 
rejected.  This  seems  to  hold  forth  thus  much  to  us, 
that  God  now  chose  them  in  such  a  manner,  that  this 
visible  choice  of  them  was  accon]panied  with  a  visible 
rejection  of  all  other  nations  in  the  world;  that  God 
visibly  came,  and  took  up  his  residence  with  them,  as 
forsaking  all  otlier  nations.  And  so  as  the  first  call- 
ing of  the  Gentiles  after  Christ  came,  was  accompanied 
with  a  rejection  of  the  Jews,  so  the  first  calling  of  the 
Jews  to  be  God's  people,  when  they  were  called  out  of 
Egypt,  was  accompanied  with  a  rejection  of  the  Gen- 
tiles. Thus  all  the  Gentile  nations  throughout  the 
whole  world,  all  nations,  but  only  the  Israelites,  and 
those  that  embodied  themselves  with  them,  were  left 
and  given  up  to  idolatry;  and  so  continued  a  great 
many  ages,  even  from  this  time  till  Christ  came. 
They  were  concluded  so  long  a  time  in  unbelief,  that 
there  might  be  a  thorough  proof  of  the  necessity  of  a 
saviour ;  that  it  might  appear  by  so  long  a  trial,  past  all 
contradiction,  that  mankind  were  utterly  insufficient 
to  deliver  themselves  from  that  gross  darkness  and 
misery,  and  subjection  to  the  devil  that  they  had  fallen 
under;"  &c. — Seep.  75. 

13.  "  God  saw  it  to  be  a  needful  and  convenient 
time  now  to  commit  his  word  to  writing;  and,  there- 
fore, Christ  wrote  the  ten  commandments  on  tables  of 
stone,  with  his  own  finger;  and  after  this  the  whole 
law;"  kc.—Seejy.  78. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  145 

14.  "It  is  observable,  that  when  Christ  appeared 
to  manage  the  affairs  of  his  church  in  this  period,  he 
often  appeared  in  the  form  of  that  nature  that  he  took 
upon  him  in  his  incarnation.  It  was  in  an  human 
form  in  which  Christ  appeared  to  the  seventy  eklers, 
of  which  we  have  an  account,  Exod.  xxiv.  9,  11, 
'Then  went  up  Moses  and  Aaron,  Nadab  and  Abihu, 
and  seventy  elders  of  Israel :  and  they  saw  the  God 
of  Israel :  and  there  was  under  his  feet,  as  it  were,  a 
paved  work  of  sapphire  stone,  and  as  it  were  the  body 
of  heaven  in  his  clearness.  And  upon  the  nobl  is  of 
the  children  of  Israel  he  laid  not  his  hand :  also,  they 
saw  God,  and  did  eat  and  drink.'  So  Christ  appeared 
afterwards  to  Joshua  in  the  form  of  the  human  nature, 
Josh.  V.  13,  14,  'as  captain  of  the  host  of  the  lord.' 
And  so  he  appeared  to  Gideon,  Judges  vi.  11.  And 
so  also  to  Manoah,  Judges  xiii.  17,  21.  Here  Christ 
appeared  to  Manoah  in  a  representation  both  of  his 
incarnation  and  death.  Clirist  thus  appeared,  time 
after  time,  in  the  form  of  that  nature  he  was  afterwards 
to  take  upon  him,  because  he  now  appeared  on  the 
same  design,  and  to  carry  on  the  same  work,  that  he 
was  to  appear  in  that  nature  to  work  out  and  carry 
on."— p.  92. 

15.  "  Jesus  Christ,  the  person  that  the  prophet 
Isaiah  spoke  so  much  of,  once  appeared  to  him  in  the 
form  of  the  human  nature.  We  have  an  account  of 
it  in  the  6th  chapter  of  his  prophecy.  'I  saw  also  the 
lord  sitting  on  a  throne,  high  and  lifted  up,  and  his 
train  filled  the  temple.'  This  was  Christ  that  Isaiah 
now  saw,  as  we  are  expressly  told  in  the  New  Testa- 
ment.—tS'ee  John  xii.  39,  41."— p.  130. 


146  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

16.  ''  Daniel  gives  an  account  of  a  very  remarkable 
appearance  of  Christ  in  Nebuchadnezzar's  furnace. 
It  is  manifest  that  he  appeared  in  the  form  of  man." 
— Daniel  iii.  25,  p.  148. 

17.  ^'God  suffered  the  devil  to  do  his  utmost,  and 
to  establish  his  interest,  by  setting  up  the  greatest, 
strongest  and  most  glorious  kingdoms  in  the  world 
that  he  could,  before  the  depised  Jesus  overthrew  him 
and  his  empire.  Christ  came  into  the  world  to  bring 
down  the  high  things  of  Satan's  kingdom,  that  the 
hand  of  the  Lord  might  be  on  every  one  that  is  proud 
and  loft}^,  and  every  high  tower,  and  every  lofty 
mountain,  as  the  prophet  Isaiah  says,  chap.  ii.  12,  &c. 
And  therefore  these  things  were  suffered  to  rise  very 
high,  that  Christ  might  appear  so  much  the  more 
glorious  in  being  above  them." — p.  138. 

18.  "Just  before  Christ  was  born,  the  Roman  empire 
was  raised  to  its  greatest  height;  Augustus  Ceesar,  as 
he  was  the  first,  so  he  was  the  greatest  of  all  the 
Roman  emperors;  he  reigned  in  the  greatest  glory. 
Thus  the  power  of  the  heathen  world,  which  was 
Satan's  visible  kingdom,  was  raised  to  its  greatest 
height,  after  it  had  been  rising  higher  and  higher,  and 
strengthening  itself  more  and  more  from  the  days  of 
Solomon  to  this  day,  which  was  about  a  thousand 
years.  Now  it  appeared  at  a  greater  height  than  it 
ever  appeared  from  the  beginning  of  Satan's  heathen- 
ish kingdom,  which  was  probably  about  the  time  of 
the  building  of  Babel." — p.  166. 

19.  "  Another  reason  why  Christ  did  not  come  soon 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  147 

after  the  ilood  probably  was,  that  the  earth  might  be 
full  of  people,  etc.,  and  that  his  victory  over  Satan 
might  be  attended  with  the  more  glory  in  the  multi- 
tude of  his  conquests.  It  was  not  proper  that  Christ 
should  come  before  the  Babylonish  captivity,  because 
Satan's  kingdom  was  not  then  come  to  the  height. 
It  was  the  will  of  God,  that  his  Son  should  make  his 
appearance  in  the  world  in  the  time  of  this  the  great- 
est and  strongest  monarchy,  [the  Roman]  which  was 
Satan's  visible  kingdom  in  the  world;  that,  by  over- 
coming this,  he  might  visibly  overcome  Satan's  king- 
dom in  its  greatest  strength  and  glory,  and  so  obtain 
the  more  complete  triumph  over  Satan  himself." — pp. 
184,  185. 

20.  "Christ's  incarnation  was  a  greater  and  more 
wonderful  thing  than  ever  had  come  to  pass.  I  would 
observe  the  great  notice  that  was  taken  of  it  in  heav- 
en and  on  eaith.  How  it  was  noticed  by  the  glorious 
inhabitants  of  the  heavenly  world,  appears  by  their 
joyful  songs  on  this  occasion,  heard  by  the  shepherds 
in  the  night.  This  was  the  greatest  event  of  Provi- 
dence that  ever  the  angels  had  beheld.  The  glorious 
angels  had  all  along  expected  this  event.  They  had 
taken  great  notice  of  the  prophecies  and  promises  of 
these  things  all  along :  for  we  are  told  that  the  angels 
desire  to  look  into  the  aflairs  of  redemption. — 1  Pet. 
i.  12.  They  had  all  along  been  the  ministers  of 
Christ  in  this  affair  of  redemption,  in  all  the  several 
steps  of  it  down  from  the  very  fall  of  man." — p.  187. 

21.  "  He  suffered  the  buffetings  of  Satan  in  an  un- 
common manner.     We  read  of  one  time  in  particular, 


148  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

when  he  had  a  long  conflict  with  the  devil,  when  he 
was  in  the  wilderness  forty  days,  with  nothing  but 
wild  beasts  and  devils;  and  was  so  exposed  to  the 
devil's  power,  that  he  was  bodily  carried  about  by 
him  from  place  to  place." — f.  212. 

"  Now  [at  the  crucifixion]  the  angels  beheld  the 
most  wonderful  thing  that  ever  they  saw." — p.  216. 

22.  "  One  design  of  Christ  in  what  he  did  in  his 
humiliation,  was  to  lay  a  foundation  for  the  overthrow 
of  Satan's  kingdom.  First,  an  end  is  brought  to  the 
former  state  of  the  church — the  state  wherein  it  was 
subject  to  carnal  ordinances — and  then  an  end  is 
brought  to  the  Jeu'ish  state,  in  the  destruction  of  their 
city  and  country;  and  then,  after  that,  an  end  is 
brought  to  the  old  heathen  empire, — and  the  next 
step  is  the  finishing  of  Satan's  visible  kingdom  in  the 
world,  upon  the  fall  of  Antichrist,  and  the  calling  of 
the  Jews ;  and  last  will  come  the  destruction  of  the 
outward  frame  of  the  world  itself." — p.  230,  232. 
"Upon  the  fall  of  Antichrist,  an  end  is  put  to  Satan's 
visible  kingdom  on  earth,  to  establish  Christ's  king- 
dom, which  is  an  eternal  kingdom.  The  very  frame 
of  this  corruptible  world  shall  come  to  an  end,  to 
make  way  for  the  church,  to  dwell  in  another  dwell- 
ing place,  which  shall  last  to  eternity." — p.  233. 

23.  "  In  this  way  [the  gradual  progress  of  things] 
the  glory  of  God's  wisdom  in  the  manner  of  doing 
this,  is  more  visible  to  the  observation  of  creatures. 
If  it  had  been  done  at  once,  in  an  instant,  or  in  a  very 
short  time,  there  would  not  have  been  such  opportu- 
nities for  creatures  to  perceive  and  observe  the  partic- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  149 

ular  steps  of  divine  wisdom,  as  when  the  work  is 
gradually  accomplished,  and  one  effect  of  his  wisdom 
is  held  forth  to  observation  after  another.  It  is  wisely 
determined  of  God,  to  accomplish  his  great  design  by 
a  wonderful  and  long  series  of  events,  that  the  glory 
of  his  wisdom  may  be  displayed  in  the  whole  series, 
and  that  the  glory  of  his  perfections  may  be  seen,  ap- 
pearing, as  it  were,  by  parts,  and  in  particular  suc- 
cessive manifestations  :  For  if  all  that  glory  which 
appears  in  all  these  events  had  been  manifested  at 
once,  it  would  have  been  too  much  for  us.  2d.  Satan 
is  more  gloriously  triumphed  over — God  could  easily, 
by  an  act  of  almighty  power,  at  once  have  crushed 
Salan  ;  but  by  giving  him  time  to  use  his  utmost 
subtlety  to  hinder  the  success  of  what  Christ  had  done 
and  suffered,  he  is  not  defeated  merely  by  surprise, 
but  has  large  opportunity  to  pl3diis  utmost  power  and 
subtlety  again  and  again,  to  strengthen  his  own  in- 
terest all  that  he  can  by  the  work  of  many  ages.  At 
length  Christ's  kingdom  is  fully  set  up,  and  Satan 
perfectly  and  eternally  vanquished." — pp.  240,  241. 

24.  "I  proceed  to  take  notice  of  the  opposition 
which  was  made  to  this  success  of  Christ's  purchase 
[prior  to  the  destruction  of  Jerusalem].  Satan,  who 
lately  was  so  ready  to  triumph  and  exult,  as  though 
he  had  gained  the  victory  in  putting  Christ  to  death, 
now  finding  himself  fallen  into  the  pit  which  he  had. 
digged,  and  finding  his  kingdom  falling  so  fast,  and 
seeing  Christ's  kingdom  make  such  amazing  progress, 
such  as  never  had  been  before,  we  may  conclude  he 
was  filled  with  the  greatest  confusion  and  astonish- 
ment, and  hell  seemed  to  be  effectually  alarmed  by  it 
S 


150  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

to  make  the  most  violent  opposition  against  it.  And 
first  the  devil  stirred  up  the  Jews,  who  had  before 
crucified  Christ,  to  persecute  the  church,"  etc. — ^p. 
262. 

25.  "But  when  Jerusalem  was  destroyed,  the  Jews 
were  put  out  of  a  capacity  of  much  troubling  the 
church.  Now,  therefore,  the  devil  turns  his  hand  else- 
where, and  uses  other  instruments." — p.  266. 

26.  '^  A  great  part  of  the  first  three  hundred  years 
after  Christ  was  spent  in  violent  and  cruel  persecu- 
tions of  the  church  by  the  Roman  powers.  Satan  was 
very  unwilling  to  let  go  his  hold  of  so  great  a  part  of 
the  world,  and  every  way  the  chief  part  of  it,  as  the 
countries  contained  in  the  Roman  empire  were,  of 
which  he  had  had  the  quiet  possession  for  so  many 
ages;  and  therefore,  when  he  saw  it  going  so  fast  out 
of  his  hands,  he  bestirred  himself  (o  his  utmost:  all 
hell  was,  as  it  were,  raised  against  it  to  oppose  it  with 
its  utmost  power.  Satan  thus  exerting  himself  by  the 
power  of  the  heathen  Roman  empire,  is  called  the 
great  red  dragon  in  Scripture." — p.  269. 

27.  "  It  was  remarked  by  both  heathenand  Christian 
writers  in  those  days,  that  the  famous  heathen  oracles 
in  their  temples,  where  princes  and  others  for  many 
past  ages  had  been  wont  to  inquire  and  receive  an- 
swers in  an  audible  voice  from  their  gods,  which  were 
answers  from  the  devil  ;  I  say,  those  oracles  were 
now  silenced  and  struck  dumb,  and  gave  no  more 
answers ;  and  particularly  the  oracle  at  Delphos, 
which  was  the  most  famous  heathen  oracle  in  the 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  161 

whole  world,  w^liich  both  Greeks  and  Romans  used 
to  consult,  began  to  cease  to  give  any  answer,  even 
from  the  birth  of  Christ ;  and  the  false  deity  who  was 
worshipped,  and  used  to  give  answers  from  his  oracle 
in  that  temple,  being  once  inquired  of  why  he  did 
not  now  give  answers  as  he  was  wont  to  do,  made 
this  reply,  as  several  heathen  historians  who  lived 
about  those  times  relate — '  There  is  an  Hebrew  boy, 
says  he,  who  is  king  of  the  gods,  who  has  com- 
manded me  to  leave  this  house,  and  be  gone  to  hell, 
and  therefore  you  are  to  expect  no  more  answers.' 
And  many  of  the  heathen  writers  who  lived  about 
that  time,  speak  much  of  the  oracles  being  silenced, 
as  a  thing  at  which  they  wondered,  not  knowing 
what  the  cause  should  be.  Plutarch,  a  heathen  writer 
of  those  times,  wrote  a  particular  treatise  about  it, 
which  is  still  extant,  and  Porphyry,  has  these  words  : 
'  Since  Jesus  began  to  be  worshipped,  no  man  has 
received  any  public  help  or  benefit  by  the  gods.' 
Thus  did  the  kingdom  of  Christ  prevail  against  the 
kingdom  of  Satan."— pp.  271,  272. 

28.  "  Satan  having  lost  ground  so  much,  notwith- 
standing all  his  attempts,  now  (under  the  tenth  per- 
secution) seemed  to  bestir  himself  with  more  than 
ordinary  rage.  Those  who  were  then  in  authorit}'- 
set  themselves  with  the  utmost  violence  to  root  out 
Christianity,  by  burning  all  Bibles,  and  destroying  all 
Christians  ;  and  therefore  they  did  not  stand  to  try  or 
convict  them  in  a  formal  process,  but  fell  upon  them 
wherever  they  could  ;  sometimes  setting  fire  to  houses 
where  multitudes  of  them  were  assembled,  and  burn- 
ing them  all  together  ;  and  at  other  times  slaughter- 


152  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

ing  multitudes  together,  so  that  sometimes  their 
persecutors  were  quite  spent  with  the  lahor  of  killing 
and  tormenting  them;  and,  in  some  populous  places, 
so  many  were  slain  together  that  the  blood  ran  like 
torrents.  It  is  related  that  seventeen  thousand  mar- 
tyrs were  slain  in  one  month's  time,  and  that  during 
the  continuance  of  this  persecution,  in  the  province 
of  Egypt  alone,  no  less  than  one  hundred  and  forty- 
four  thousand  Christians  died  by  the  violence  of  their 
persecutors,  besides  700,000  that  died  through  the  fa- 
tigues of  banishment,  or  the  public  works  to  which 
they  were  condemned.  This  persecution  lasted  for 
ten  years  together  ;  and  as  it  exceeded  all  foregoing 
persecutions  in  the  number  of  martyrs,  so  it  exceeded 
them  in  the  variety  and  multitude  of  inventions  of 
torture  and  cruelty.  The  heathen  persecutors  thought 
they  had  finished  their  work,  and  boasted  that  they 
had  utterly  destroyed  the  name  and  superstition  of 
the  Christians,  and  had  restored  the  worship  of  the 
gods."— jp.  273. 

29.  "  This  revolution  [the  subversion  of  the  heathen 
idolatry  in  the  Roman  empire,  by  Constantino,]  was 
the  greatest  revolution  and  change  in  the  face  of 
things  that  ever  came  to  pass  in  the  world  since  the 
flood.  Satan,  the  prince  of  darkness,  that  king  and 
god  of  the  heathen  world,  was  cast  out.  The  roaring 
lion  was  conquered  by  the  lamb  of  God,  in  the  strongest 
dominion  that  ever  he  had,  even  the  Roman  empire." 
—j>.  275. 

30.  "What  came  to  pass  now  is  also  represented 
by  the  devil's  being  cast  out  of  heaven  to  the  earth — 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  153 

to  the  meaner  and  move  barbarous  nations,  &c.  Sa- 
tan tempted  Christ,  and  promised  to  give  him  the 
glory  of  the  kingdoms  of  the  world,  but  now  he  is 
obliged  to  give  it  to  him." — p.  276. 

31.  "I  would  consider  the  events  of  the  first  part 
x>f  this  period,  reaching   from  the   destruction  of  the 

heathen  empire  to  the  rise  of  Antichrist.  And  here 
first  I  would  take  notice  of  the  opposition  Satan  made 
in  this  space  of  time  to  the  church.  It  was  either  by 
corrupting  the  church  of  Christ  with  heresies,  or  by 
new  endeavors  to  restore  paganism.  Satan  infested 
the  church  with  heresies.  The  two  principal,  and 
those  which  did  most  infest  the  church,  were  the  Arian 
and  Pelagian  heresies.  Before  the  fourth  century 
was  finished,  the  greater  part  of  the  Christian  church 
were  become  Arians.  They  denied  the  doctrine  of 
the  Trinity,  and  the  divinity  of  Christ,  and  the  Holy 
Ghost,  and  maintained  that  they  were  but  mere  crea- 
tures. The  Pelagian  heresy  arose  in  the  beginning  of 
the  next  century.  He  (Pelagius)  denied  original  sin, 
and  the  influence  of  the  spirit  of  God  in  conversion, 
and  held  the  power  of  free  will,"  &c. — pp.  282,  282. 

32.  "The  other  kind  of  opposition,  which  Satan 
made  against  the  church,  was  in  his  endeavors  to  re- 
store paganism.  And  his  first  attempt  to  restore  it 
in  the  Roman  empire,  was  by  Julian,  the  apostate. 
Another  way  that  Satan  attempted  to  restore  paganism 
in  the  Roman  empire,  was  by  the  invasions  and  con- 
quests of  heathen  7iations.  These  nations,  [the  Goths, 
Vandals,  &c.,]  who  now  took  possession  of  the  west- 
ern empire,  were  heathens;  so  that  by  their  means 


154  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.         , 

heathenism  was  again  for  a  while  restored,  after  it 
had  been  rooted  out."— 7?;;.  283,  284. 

33.  "I  woukl  take  notice  of  the  great  works  of  the 
devil  against  the  kingdom  of  Christ  from  Constantino 
to  the  destruction  of  Antichrist.  Satan  had  done  great 
things  against  the  Christian  church  before,  but  had 
been  bafiled  once  and  again.  Michael  and  his  angels 
had  obtained  a  glorious  victory.  How  terrible  was 
his  opposition  during  the  continuance  of  the  heathen 
empire;  and  how  glorious  was  Christ's  victory  and 
triumph  over  him  in  the  time  of  Constantino!  It 
pleased  God  now  to  prepare  the  way  for  a  yet  more 
glorious  victory  over  him,  to  suffer  him  to  renew  his 
strength,  and  to  do  the  utmost  that  his  power  and 
subtlety  can  help  him  to;  and  therefore  he  suffers  him 
to  have  a  long  time,  to  lay  his  schemes,  and  to  esta- 
blish his  interests,  and  make  his  matters  strong;  and 
suffers  him  to  carry  his  designs  a  great  length  indeed, 
ahiiost  to  the  swallowing  up  of  his  church;  and  to 
exercise  a  high,  and  proud,  and  almost  uncontrolled 
dominion  in  the  world,  a  long  time  before  Christ 
finally  conquers  and  subdues,  and  utterly  ruins  his 
visible  kingdom  on  earth,  as  he  will  do  in  the  time 
of  the  destruction  of  Antichrist.  Thus  gloriously 
triumphing  over  him  after  he  has  done  the  utmost 
that  his  power  and  subtlety  can  extend  to,  and  show- 
ing that  he  is  above  him,  after  he  has  dealt  most 
proudly,  and  lifted  himself  highest  of  all. 

"  The  two  great  works  of  the  devil  which  he  in  this 
space  of  time  wrought  against  the  kingdom  of  Christ, 
are  his  creating  his  Antichristian  and  Mahometan 
kingdoms,  which  have  been,  and  still  are,  two  king- 


,  THE     MEDIATORIAL     AVORK.  155 

doms  of  great  extent  and  streng-tli,  both  together  swal- 
lowing up  the  ancient  Roman  empire  ;  the  kingdom 
of  Antichrist  swallowing  up  the  western  empire,  and 
Satan's  Mahometan  kingdom  the  eastern  empire.  As 
the  Scriptures  in  the  Book  of  the  Revelation  represent 
it,  it  is  in  the  destruction  of  these  that  the  glorious 
victory  of  Christ,  at  the  introduction  of  the  glorious 
times  of  the  church  will  mainly  consist.  And  here 
let  us  briefly  observe  how  Satan  erects  and  maintains 
these  two  great  kingdoms  of  his  in  opposition  to  the 
kingdom  of  Christ. 

"  With  respect  to  the  kingdom  of  Antichrist.  This 
seems  to  be  the  masterpiece  of  all  the  contrivances  of 
the  devil  against  the  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  is  evi- 
dently so  spoken  of  in  Scripture.  We  find  no  enemy 
of  Christ  one  half  so  much  spoken  of  in  the  prophecies 
of  Revelation  as  this ;  and  the  destruction  of  no  enemy 
is  spoken  of  as  so  glorious  and  happy  for  the  church. 
The  craft  and  subtlety  of  the  devil,  above  all,  appears 
in  this  work  of  his.  This  is  a  contrivance  of  the  devil 
to  turn  the  ministry  of  the  Christian  church  into  a 
ministry  of  the  devil,  and  to  turn  these  angels  of  the 
churches  into  fallen  angels,  and  so  into  devils.  And 
in  the  tyranny  and  superstition,  and  idolatry,  and 
persecution,  which  he  sets  up,  he  contrives  to  make 
an  image  of  ancient  paganism,  and  more  than  to 
restore  what  Avas  lost  in  the  empire  by  the  overthrow 
of  paganism  in  the  time  of  Constantine :  so  that  by 
these  means  the  head  of  the  beast  which  was  wound- 
ed unto  death  in  Constantino,  has  his  deadly  wound 
healed  in  Antichrist.  Rev.  xiii.  3.  And  the  dragon 
that  formerly  reigned  in  the  heathen  Roman  empire, 
being  cast  out   thence,  after  the   beast  with  seven 


156  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

heads  and  ten  horns  rises  up  out  of  the  sea,  gives  him 
his  power,  and  seat,  and  great  authority ;  and  all  the 
world  wonders  after  the  beast. 

"  He  claimed  the  power  of  a  temporal  prince,  and 
so  was  wont  to  carry  two  swords,  to  signify  that  both 
the  temporal  and  spiritual  sword  was  his  ;  and  claim- 
ed more  and  more  authority,  till  at  length  he,  as 
Christ's  vicegerent  on  earth,  claimed  the  very  same 
power  that  Christ  would  have  if  he  was  present  on 
earth  and  reigned  on  his  tJirone,  or  the  same  power 
that  belongs  to  God,  and  used  to  be  called  God  on 
earth  ;  and  used  to  be  submitted  to  by  all  the  princes 
of  Christendom."— PJ9.  286,  289. 

34.  "I  come  now  to  speak  of  his  Mahometan  king- 
dom, which  is  another  great  kingdom  of  mighty  power 
and  v^ast  extent,  set  up  by  Satan  against  the  kingdom 
of  Christ.  He  set  this  up  in  the  eastern  empire,  as 
he  did  that  of  Antichrist  in  the  western." — p.  290. 

35.  "I  proceed  to  show  what  opposition  has  been 
made,  to  the  success  of  Christ's  purchase  b}^  the  Re- 
formation, by  Satan  and  his  adherents ;  observing  as 
we  go  along,  how  far  they  have  been  baffled,  and  how 
far  they  have  been  successful. 

"  The  opposition  which  Satan  has  made  against  the 
reformed  religion,  has  been  principally  of  the  follow- 
ing kinds,  viz:  that  which  was  made.  First,  by  a  gen- 
eral council  of  the  church  of  Rome  [that  of  Trent 
which  continued  twenty-five  years] ;  Second,  by  secret 
plots  and  devices  ;  Third,  by  open  wars  and  invasions; 
Fourth,  by  cruel  oppression  and  persecution;  and 
Fifthf  by  bringing  in  corrupt  opinions. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  157 

"The  doctrines  and  practices  of  the  church  of 
Rome,  which  were  chiefly  condemned  by  the  Reform- 
ed, were  confirmed  by  the  decrees  of  their  council; 
and  the  corruptions,  in  many  respects,  wove  carried 
higher  than  ever  before;  and  they  uttered  blasphe- 
mous reproaches  and  curses  against  the  reformed  re- 
ligion, and  all  the  reformed  church  was  excommuni- 
cated and  anathematized  by  them;  and  so,  according 
to  the  prophecy,  they  blasphemed  God." — f.  299. 

3G.  "Satan  has  opposed  the  Reformation  with  cruel 
persecutions.  The  persecutions  with  which  the  Pro- 
testants, in  one  kingdom  and  another,  have  been  per- 
secuted by  the  church  of  Rome,  have  in  many  respects 
been  far  beyond  any  of  the  heathen  persecutions 
which  were  before  Constantine  the  Great,  and  beyond 
all  that  ever  were  before.  So  that  Antichrist  has 
proved  the  greatest  and  crudest  enemy  to  the  church 
of  Christ  tliat  ever  was  in  the  world,  in  this,  as  well 
as  in  all  other  respects;  agreeably  to  the  description 
given  of  the  church  of  Rome,  Rev.  xvii.  6.,  and  xviii. 
24. 

37.  "The  heathen  persecutions  had  been  very 
dreadful;  but  now  persecution,  by  the  church  of 
Rome,  was  improved  and  studied,  and  cultivated  as 
an  art,  or  science.  Such  ways  of  afflicting  and  tor- 
menting were  found  out,  as  are  beyond  the  thought 
and  invention  of  ordinary  men,  or  men  who  are  un- 
studied in  those  things,  and  beyond  the  invention  of 
all  former  ages.  And  that  persecution  might  be  man- 
aged the  moreefTectually,  there  were  certain  societies 
of  men  established  in  various  parts  of  the  popish  do- 
minions, whose  business  it  should  be  to  study  and  im- 


158  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

prove,  and  practice  perscculion  in  its  highest  perfec- 
tion, which  are  those  societies  called  the  Courts  of  In- 
quisition.^^— p.  301. 

38.  "Soon  after  the  Reformation,  there  were  terri- 
ble persecutions  in  various  parts  of  Germany;  and 
especially  in  Bohemia,  which  lasted  for  thirty  years 
together.  The  countries  of  Poland,  Lithuania  and 
Hungary,  were  in  like  manner  deluged  with  Protes- 
tant blood.  Also,  Holland  and  the  other  low  coun- 
tries, were  for  many  years  a  scene  of  nothing  but  the 
most  affecting  and  amazing  cruelties,  being  deluged 
with  the  blood  of  Protestants.  In  France,  it  is  reck- 
oned, that  within  thirty  years,  there  were  martyred 
about  900,000.  Thus  did  the  devil  and  his  great 
minister,  Antichrist,  rage  with  such  violence  and  cru- 
elty against  the  church  of  Christ!  The  last  kind  of 
opposition  that  Satan  has  made  to  the  Reformation  is 
by  corrupt  opinions.  Satan  has  opposed  the  light  of 
the  Gospel,  which  shone  forth  in  the  Reformation, 
with  many  corrupt  o^Dinions  which  he  has  brought  in 
and  propagated  in  the  world." — irp.  301,  304. 

39.  "Satan  has  ever  had  a  diead  of  having  his 
kingdom  overthrown,  and  he  has  been  opposing  of  it 
ever  since  Christ's  ascension,  and  has  been  doing  great 
works  to  fortify  his  kingdom  and  to  prevent  it,  ever 
since  the  day  of  Constantino  the  Great.  To  this  end, 
he  has  set  up  those  two  mighty  kingdoms  of  Anti- 
christ and  Mahomet,  and  brought  in  all  tlie  heresies 
and  superstitions,  and  corrupt  opinions  which  there 
are  in  the  world.  But  when  he  sees  all  begin  to  fail, 
it  will  rouse  him  up  exceedingly.     If  Satan  dreaded. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  159 

being"  cast  out  of  the  Roman  empire,  how  much  more 
does  he  dread  being  cast  out  of  the  whole  world. 

"It  seems  as  thoug'h,  in  this  last  great  opposition 
which  shall  be  made  against  the  church  to  defend  the 
kingdom  of  Satan,  all  the  forces  of  Antichrist,  and 
Mahometanism,  and  heathenism,  will  be  united;  all 
the  forces  of  Satan's  visible  kingdom,  through  the 
whole  world  of  mankind.  And  therefore  it  is  said, 
that  the  'spirits  of  devils  shall  go  forth  unto  the  kings 
of  the  earth  and  of  the  whole  world,  to  gather  them 
together  to  the  battle  of  the  great  day  of  God  Almigh- 
ty.' There  will  be,  some  way  or  other,  a  mighty 
struggle  between  Satan's  kingdom  and  the  church, 
and  probably  in  all  ways  of  opposition  that  can  be ; 
and  doubtless  gieat  opposition  by  external  force; 
wherein  the  princes  of  the  world,  who  are  on  the 
devil's  side,  shall  join  hand  in  hand." — pp.  334,  335. 

40.  "Now  [at  the  close  of  that  battle]  the  business 
is  done  for  Satan  and  his  adherents.  Satan's  last  and 
greatest  opposition  is  conquered;  all  his  measures  are 
defeated.  The  devil  is  utterly  baffled  and  confound- 
ed, and  knows  not  what  else  to  do.  He  and  his  most 
powerful  instruments  are  taken  captive." — p.  336. 

41.  "  In  this  victory  will  be  a  most  glorious  dis- 
play of  divine  power.  Christ  shall  therein  appear  in 
the  character  of  King  of  kings  and  Lord  of  lords. — 
Rev.  xix.  16.  Now  Christ  shall  dash  his  enemies 
even  the  strongest  and  proudest  of  them  to  pieces. 
Consequent  on  this  victory,  Satan's  visible  kingdom 
on  earth  shall  be  destroyed." — p.  337. 


160  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

42.  "  A  little  before  the  end  of  the  world,  there 
shall  be  a  very  great  apostacy.  Satan  shall  begin  to 
set  up  his  dominion  again  in  the  world.  This  world 
shall  again  become  a  scene  of  darkness  and  wicked- 
ness. The  bottomless  pit  of  hell  shall  be  opened, 
and  devils  shall  come  up  again  out  of  it,  and  a  dread- 
ful smoke  shall  ascend  to  darken  the  world.  This 
apostacy  will  be  most  like  the  apostacy  of  the  devils 
of  any  that  ever  had  before  been  :  for  the  devils 
apostatized  and  turned  enemies  to  Christ,  though  they 
enjoyed  the  light  of  heaven ;  and  these  will  aposta- 
tize and  turn  enemies  to  him,  though  they  have  en- 
joyed the  light  and  privileges  of  the  glorious  times  of 
the  Church."— PJ9.  355,  356. 

43.  "  We   have  seen,  how  Satan,  the  great  dra- 
gon, that  old  serpent,  who  has  set  up  himself  as  god 
of  this  world,  will  be  cast  into  the  lake  of  fire.     We 
began  at  the  head   of  the   stream   of  divine  provi- 
dence, and  have  followed  and  traced  it  through  its 
various  windings  and    turnings,   till  we  are  come  to 
the  end  of  it,  and  we  see  where  it  issues.    As  it  began 
in  God,  so  it  ends  in  God.     We  may  see  by  what  has 
been  said,  how   Christ  in  all  things  has  the  pre-emi- 
nence.    For  this  great  work  of  redemption  is  all  his 
work.     What  has  been    said  shows  how  all  the  pur- 
poses of  God  are  purposed  in  Christ,  and  how  he  is  be- 
fore all  and  above  all,  and  all  things  consist  by  him, 
and  are  governed  by  him,  and  are  for  him. — Col.  i. 
15-18. 

"  We  see  that  whatever  changes  there  are,  and 
however  highly  Christ's  enemies  exalt  themselves, 
that  yet  finally  all  his  enemies  become  his  footstool. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  161 

and  he  reigns  in  uncontrolled   power  and  immense 
glory. 

"  Hence  we  may  see  what  a  consistent  thing  divine 
providence  is.  If  we  behold  the  events  of  Provi- 
dence in  any  other  view  than  that  in  which  it  has 
been  set  before  us,  it  will  all  look  like  confusion, 
like  a  number  of  jumbled  events  coming  to  pass  with- 
out any  order  or  method.  It  is  with  God's  work  of 
providence,  as  it  is  with  his  work  of  creation  ;  it  is 
but  one  work.  God's  providence  may  not  un- 
fitly be  compared  to  a  large  and  long  river,  having 
innumerable  branches,  beginning  in  different  regions, 
and  at  a  great  distance  one  from  another,  and  all 
conspiring  to  one  common  issue." — pp.  381,  382. 

44.  "  God's  power  gloriously  appears  in  conquer- 
ing Satan.  Christ,  our  Michael,  has  overcome  him. 
His  power  gloriously  appears  in  conquering  him  in 
that  kingdom,  wherein  his  pride  and  subtlety,  and 
cruelty,  above  all  appears,  viz. :  the  kingdom  of 
Antichrist.  It  gloriously  appears  in  conquering  him 
in  that  greatest  and  strongest  combination  and  oppo- 
sition of  the  devil  and  his  adherents  against  Christ 
and  his  church,  just  before  the  fall  of  Antichrist, 
wherein  his  visible  kingdom  has  a  fatal  blow  given  to 
it,  on  which  an  universal  downfall  of  it  follows  all 
over  the  world." — p.  386. 

45.  "  From  what  hath  been  said,  we  may  see  the 
glorious  wisdom  of  God.  It  shows  the  wisdom  of 
God  in  creating  the  world,  in  that  he  has  created  it 
for  such  an  excellent  use,  to  accomplish  in  it  so  glori- 
ous a  work.      And   it  shows  the  wisdom   of  divine 


162  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

providence,  that  he  bring-s  such  great  good  out  of  such 
great  evil,  in  making  the  fall  and  ruin  of  mankind, 
which  in  itself  is  so  sorrowful  and  deplorable,  an  oc- 
casion of  accomplishing  such  a  glorious  work. — And 
how  glorious  doth  the  wisdom  of  God  appear  in  that 
long  course  and  series  of  great  changes  in  the  world 
in  bringing  such  order  out  of  confusion,  in  so  frustrat- 
ing the  devil,  and  so  wonderfully  turning  all  his 
most  subtle  machinations  to  his  own  glory,  and  the 
glory  of  his  Son  Jesus  Christ !" — pp.  287,  288. 


46.  The  foregoing  extracts  may  serve  to  show  how 
the  author  was  led  by  his  profound  knowledge  of  the 
Scriptures,  his  comprehensive  views  of  the  purposes 
and  works  of  God,  of  the  apostacy  and  ruin  of  man 
by  the  instigation  of  Satan,  and  of  the  works  of  pro- 
vidence and  redemption,  and  his  views  of  the  leading 
doctrines  of  revelation,  to  represent  the  work  of  the  Medi- 
ator so  prominently  as  a  conflict  with  the  great  adversary 
and  his  adherents.  He  contemplated  the  whole  as  a 
connected,  consistent,  perfect  scheme;  originating  and 
ending  with  him  who  declares  himself  the  Alpha  and 
Omega,  the  first  and  the  last.  He  considered  the 
ereation  as  preparatory  to  the  great  scene  of  provi- 
dential dispensations  and  moral  exhibitions  which 
were  to  follow  ;  the  stage  on  which  the  great  drama 
was  to  proceed  in  the  view  of  angels  and  of  men. 

47.  Regarding  all  the  works  of  providence  as 
having  relation  to  the  work  of  redemption,  the  divine 
dispensations  towards  idolatrous  nations,  and  all  op- 
posing, persecuting,  hostile  governments,  combina- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  163 

tions  and  powers,  biouglit  pioiiiinently  cind  con- 
stantly to  his  view,  the  malevolent  agency  and  object 
of  the  great  adversary,  the  instigator  of  man's  revolt, 
the  implacable  and  ceaseless  enemy  of  Christ  and 
his  church.  It  seems  to  have  been  evident  to  him 
that  it  was  the  constant  purpose  and  effort  of  Satan 
to  frustrate  and  defeat  the  Mediator's  work,  especially 
with  respect  to  the  redemption  of  man  and  the  gov- 
ernment of  this  world,  and  to  exterminate  the  church  ; 
and  that  such  will  continue  to  be  the  constant  object 
of  his  utmost  efforts,  till  he  shall  be  totally  vanquished 
and  crushed  by  a  transcendant  exhibition  of  the  power 
of  Christ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  that  by  his  works 
of  providence  and  the  progress  of  his  dispensations, 
the  Mediator  has  restrained  and  baffled  him  ;  counter- 
acted and  thwarted  his  machinations  and  exhibited 
His  supremacy  by  triumphing  over  him  from  time  to 
time ;  though  his  final  victory  is  delayed  to  allow 
time  for  all  the  manifestations  originally  intended, 
whether  of  the  divine  perfections,  or  of  the  depravity 
of  fallen  angels  and  men, 

48.  Hence,  he  particularly  notices  the  occasions 
when  by  the  devices  and  malice  of  Satan  the  church 
has  been  greatly  reduced  in  numbers,  and  all  but  ex- 
terminated, and  has  been  preserved,  and  her  great 
enemy  thwarted  by  signal  interpositions  of  the  wisdom 
and  power  of  Christ.  Thus,  when  the  church  was 
reduced  to  the  family  of  Noah,  he  destroyed  the  whole 
world  of  the  ungodly  by  the  deluge.  When  the  de- 
scendants of  Noah  were  seduced  into  idolatry,  he 
interposed  by  calling  Abraham,  and  preserving  the 
church  in  the  line  of  his  family.     When  it  was  again 


164  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

reduced,  and  nearly  swallowed  up  in  the  idolatrous 
abominations  of  Egypt,  he  rescued  his  people  by  the 
hand  of  Moses,  punished  their  oppressors,  and  de- 
stroyed Pharaoh  and  his  host  in  the  Red  Sea.  When 
it  was  nearly  extinguished  in  the  captivity  in  Baby- 
lon, he  again  interposed  and  brought  it  back  to  Jeru- 
salem. When  corrupted  and  almost  subverted  by 
Pharasaic,  Sadducean,  and  other  heresies,  he  person- 
ally appeared  incarnate.  When  harassed  and 
threatened  with  utter  ruin  by  persecution  under 
pagan  Rome,  he  overthrew  the  idolatrous  institutions 
of  that  power.  When  corrupted,  oppressed  and  per- 
secuted by  the  beast  of  papal  Rome,  he  interposed  by 
the  Reformation ;  and  when  that  Antichrist  and  his 
infidel  and  idolatrous  confederates  shall  engage  in  the 
future  and  greatest  conflict,  he  will  conquer  the  dragon 
who  gave  power  to  the  beast,  and  subvert  all  ene- 
mies. 

49.  Now,  regarding  the  great  scene  Avhich  has  been 
passing  on  this  earth  as  designed  for  the  purpose  of 
manifesting  the  divine  perfections  and  instructing 
intelligent  creatures,  and  therefore  designed  to  be 
seen,  it  occurs  to  observe  that  a  large  portion  of  the 
manifestations  to  be  made  required  the  visible  acts  of 
men.  The  purposes  and  doings  of  Satan  evidently 
required  the  visible  instrumentality  and  agency  of 
men.  Hence,  his  agency  is  so  generally  veiled  in 
that  instrumentality,  and  is  therefore  so  liable  to  be 
resolved  into  the  mere  agency  of  men.  Men  being 
fallen  and  depraved,  act  in  character^when  they  act  in 
conformity  with  his  designs  and  by  his  instigation  ; 
and,  as  interested  spectators  of  each  other,  they  are 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK  165 

prone  to  ascribe  the  worst  acts  to  mere  human  motives 
and  passions.  It  is  perhaps  one  of  the  chief  devices 
of  Satan,  so  to  deceive  and  impose  upon  men,  as  to 
hide  himself  from  their  observation,  and  hinder  them 
from  suspecting  that  he  is  their  tempter,  deceiver, 
and  enemy.  To  what  else  are  his  wiles  and  his  sub- 
tle machinations  directed  ?  To  what  other  end  does 
he  blind  their  minds  and  rule  in  their  hearts  ? 

50.  In  scarcely  one  of  the  instances  recorded  in  the 
Scriptures,  in  which  his  agency  is  declared  to  have 
been  concerned,  would  it  otherwise  have  been  any 
more  likely  to  be  suspected  than  in  numberless  other 
instances  in  which  it  is  not  declared  ;  and,  indeed,  in 
numberless  instances  every  day.  Was  there,  for  ex- 
ample, any  thing  special  in  the  instance  in  which  he 
is  represented  to  have  spoken  as  a  lying  spirit  by  pre- 
tended prophets,  to  distinguish  that  from  any  other 
instance  of  false  prophesying  1  Or  any  thing  in 
David's  numbering  Israel  by  his  instigation,  to  distin- 
guish that  act,  or  mark  it  with  more  turpitude  than 
is  discoverable  in  the  destruction  of  Uriah  1  Or  in  the 
case  of  Job,  did  any  thing  occur  which  would  not 
have  been  readily  ascribed  to  natural  causes  and  hu- 
man motives,  if  the  agency  of  Satan  had  not  been 
expressly  recognized  in  the  narrative  ? 

51.  So  of  the  numerous  instances  recorded  in  the 
New  Testament  of  tlie  actions  and  sufferings  of  men 
under  his  influence.  Those  who  were  healed  by  the 
power  of  Christ  owed  their  diseases  to  the  malice  of 
Satan — they  were  oppressed  by  the  devil.  But  their 
diseases  do  not  appear  to  have  been  different  from 


166  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

those  occurring  at  other  periods.  The  concomitants 
of  possession  in  those  from  wliom  evil  spirits  were  cast 
out,  were  deafness,  dumbness,  and  others  common  to 
every  age.  The  agency  of  Satan-  in  the  case  of  An- 
nanias  and  Sapphira,  had  it  not  been  specially  re- 
corded, would  not  be  suspected  from  any  thing  pecu- 
liar and  apparent  in  the  acts  which  they  committed. 

52.  These  facts,  by  which  it  is  rendered  certain 
that  the  agency  of  Satan  has  been  joined  with  that  of 
men,  in  numerous  instances  and  at  different  periods, 
where,  but  for  the  Scripture  record,  nothing  would  have 
appeared  to  indicate  his  interference,  are  sufficient, 
when  considered  in  connection  with  his  character — 
the  constant  object  of  his  rebellion,  rage  and  subtlety, 
and  the  intimations  of  Scripture  respecting  his  wiles 
and  devices,  and  his  ceaseless  activity  in  tempting, 
deceiving  and  betraying  man — to  justify  the  belief 
that  his  agency  is  no  less  concerned  in  countless  other 
instances  of  impiety  and  wickedness  on  the  part  of 
men,  and  indeed  so  universally  in  all  their  sinful  acts 
as  to  account  for  its  being  said,  in  the  words  of  inspi- 
ration, that  he  "  rules  in  the  hearts  of  the  children  of 
disobedience  ;"  "that  he  is  god  of  this  Avorld,"  "  tiiat 
he  deceiveth  the  whole  world,"  "  that  the  wicked  are 
his  children,  his  captives,  his  subjects." 

53.  Consistently  with  what  is  said  above,  of  the 
cases  in  which  his  agency  is  announced  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, it  is  to  be  observed  that  he,  in  like  manner  and 
for  like  reasons,  in  claiming  and  receiving  the  hom- 
age and  worship  of  men,  conceals  himself  under  the 
forms  and  images  of  idolatry.     He  instigates  and  de- 


THE-   MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  167 

ludes  the  worshippers,  but  interposes  some  visible 
symbols  of  his  presence  and  power,  while  he  keeps 
behind  the  scenes.  Even  if  he  could  render  himself 
personally  visible,  he  could  hardly  hope  in  that  case 
to  secure  the  homage  and  submission  of  his  worship- 
pers ;  and  though  his  symbols  may  be  erected  every- 
where, he  could  not  be  personally  present  in  innu- 
merable different  places. 

54.  It  is  obvious  to  suppose  that,  if  in  all  his  influ- 
ence and  interference  with  men,  his  agency  and  his 
evil  purposes  were  distinctly  recognized,  the  freedom 
of  their  wills  would  be  affected  by  additional  and  dif- 
ferent motives  from  those  by  which  they  are  legiti- 
mately and  properly  governed  ;  and  in  such  a  case 
the  course  of  events  might,  and  perhaps  necessarily 
would  be  widely  different  from  that  which  now  occurs. 
As  things  actually  are,  in  this  respect,  the  guilt  of  their 
actions  is  all  their  own,  and  the  guilt  of  Satan's  acts 
is  all  his  own. 

55.  So  on  the  other  hand,  in  the  case  of  converted 
men  ;  all  the  virtue  and  praiseworthiness  of  their  holy 
acts  belongs  to  them,  though  there  be  an  influence  of 
the  Holy  Spirit  concerned  in  ever)^  one  of  them. 
Such  acts  are  performed  in  view  of  rational  and  Scrip- 
tural motives,  and  are  strictly  their  own  acts.  They 
are  conscious  of  no  influence  but  that  of  such  motives; 
though  as  matter  of  doctrine  and  theory  they  know 
that  their  first  and  all  their  subsequent  holy  acts,  and 
especially  their  most  distinguished  acts  of  piety,  self- 
denial  and  obedience,  are  occasioned,  or  to  be  referred 
to  the  divine  influence. 


168  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

56.  Whatever  of  mystery  there  may  be  in  either  of 
these  cases  is  to  be  referred  either  to  what  relates  to 
the  nature  of  free  agency  in  rational  creatures,  or 
what  relates  to  the  actual  system  of  visible  manifesta- 
tion. 

57.  With  respect  to  the  latter,  it  is  plain  that  nei- 
ther the  effects  of  the  divine  influence  or  agency  in 
the  one  case,  nor  the  reality,  object,  or  results  of  the 
agency  of  Satan  in  the  other,  could  be  manifested 
otherwise  than  by  the  outward  and  visible,  audible  or 
otherwise  observable  acts  of  men. 

58.  If,  therefore,  in  referring  to  the  acts  of  wicked 
men,  whether  of  impiety  towards  God,  or  of  falsehood 
and  cruelty  towards  each  other,  we  ascribe  them  to 
the  instigation  of  Satan,  we  do  not  transcend  the  war- 
rant of  Scripture  either  in  respect  to  his  agency,  or 
their  accountability.  Their  acts  are  in  innumerable 
instances  not  less  atrocious,  not  less  impious,  injurious 
and  abominable  than  those  mentioned  in  the  Scrip- 
tures as  directly  instigated  by  Satan.  Their  infidelity 
and  impiety,  their  idolatries  and  blasphemies,  com- 
mitted even  with  the  Bible  in  their  hands ;  their  dis- 
honesty, covetousness  and  oppression  ;  their  cruelties, 
persecutions  and  murders,  are,  to  say  the  least,  not 
less  flagrant  and  horrible  than  any  of  those  of  infernal 
instigation  which  are  noticed  in  the  Scriptures.  The 
truth  is  that  they  are  subject  to  him,  his  captives, under 
his  tyrannical  and  malevolent  influence,  led  by  him  at 
his  will.  He  is  their  enemy,  deceiver,  tempter,  de- 
stroyer. By  them,  he,  in  a  great  measure,  carries  on 
his  hostility  to  the  Mediator  and  his  redeemed  people, 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  169 

and  by  their  instrumentality  his  evil  designs  and  acts 
are  rendered  visible.  He  tempts  men  when  he  sees 
by  their  conduct  that  they  are  predisposed  to  act  out 
the  wickedness  which  he  instigates.  Thus  in  the 
case  of  David,  Ananias  and  others  specially  men- 
tioned in  the  Scriptures. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

THE  "WORK  OF  THE  MEDIATOR  CONSIDERED  AS  INDICATING  BY 
THE  NATURE  AND  TASTJSESS  OF  ITS  OBJECTS  AND  THE 
EVENTS  AND  ANALOGIES  OF  ITS  PROGRESS,  THE  VISIBILITY 
AND  GLORY  OF  HIS  FUTURE  MANIFESTATIONS. 

1.  The  mediatorial  work  of  Christ  has  been  con- 
templated as  comprising  the  creation,  preservation, 
and  government  of  all  creatures  ;  as  characterized  by 
outward  and  visible  manifestations  ;  and  as  including 
a  prolonged  conflict  with  Satan  and  his  adherents. 
The  view  which  has  been  taken  naturally  suggests 
the  inquiry.  Whether  the  future  is  to  be  in  like  man- 
ner characterized  by  similar  and  more  glorious  out- 
ward and  visible  manifestations  1  Whether  the  Son 
of  God  in  finally  obviating  the  ruins  of  the  fall,  con- 
summating his  triumph  over  all  enemies,  and  success- 
fully establishing  his  empire,  will  again  personally 
appear,  not  as  before  in  a  state  of  humiliation,  but  in 
the  majesty  and  splendor  of  his  regal  office  1  That 
such  may  be  the  case  will,  doubtless  be  admitted  by 
all.  That  it  will  be,  is  the  decided  conviction  of 
some,  founded  on  their  view  and  mode  of  interpreting 
the  prophecies.  The  following  observations  and  sug- 
gestions are  offered  as  obviously  arising  from  the  pre- 
ceding view,  which  obliges  us  to  suppose  that  the 
result  of  the  conflict  which  has  hitherto  given  to  the 
scene  on  earth  so  much  of  its  character,  and  of  the 
final  consummation  of  the  purposes  and  dispensations 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  171 

of  the  past,  will  be  signalised  in  such  a  manner  as 
to  display  to  the  universe  the  transcendent  majesty, 
glory,  righteousness  and  power  of  the  Mediator. 

2.  It  has  been  noticed  as  indicated  in  the  Scrip- 
tures, that  the  great  scene,  which,  since  the  creation, 
has  been  passing  on  the  earth,  has  been  diligently 
and  closely  observed  by  the  created  intelligences  of 
other  worlds,  that  they  attain  their  knowledge  of  the 
invisible  One  in  the  same  way  as  man  :  namely,  by 
observing  his  works,  and  the  various  ]nanifestalions 
of  his  perfections,  counsels,  and  purposes,  which  are 
brought  within  their  cognizance;  and,  that  these 
means  of  knowledge  are  exhibited  to  them  as  well  as 
to  men,  by  the  Son  of  God,  in  the  official  and  peculiar 
relation  which  he  sustains  to  all  intelligent  creatures, 
as  the  medium  of  divine  manifestation,  intercourse 
and  fellowship. 

3.  All  created  natures  are  therefore  deemed  to  be 
concerned  in  his  work.  In  its  connection  with  them 
it  forms  the  great  moral  scene  of  the  universe.  In  its 
progress  a  vivid  exhibition  is  made  of  the  apostacy, 
corruption  and  wickedness  of  fallen  angels  and  men ; 
of  the  curse  denounced  upon  the  earth  and  its  inhab- 
itants ;  of  the  inadequacy  of  all  human  devices,  all 
means  and  motives  addressed  to  men  as  moral  agents, 
all  providential  restraints,  divine  laws,  promises, 
warnings  and  threatenings,  to  reclaim  and  save  any 
of  the  fallen  race  ;  and  of  the  interposition  of  infinite 
wisdom,  power  and  grace  to  rescue  a  portion  of  the 
human  famil)'-,  counteract  and  vanquish  the  adver- 
sary, subvert  all  enemies,  retrieve  the  ruins  of  the  fall, 


172  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

renovate  the  earth,  and  fill  the  universe  with  the 
praises  of  the  unfallen  and  the  redeemed.  The 
manifestations  of  this  scene  are  displayed  in  the  view 
of  the  heavenly  hosts  to  instruct  them,  to  fortify  them 
against  the  wiles  of  Satan,  and  confirm  them  in  their 
allegiance,  and  so  to  unite  angels  and  men  in  per- 
petual obedience,  fellowship  and  love,  and  reconcile 
or  harmonize  all  things  in  heaven  and  earth.  The 
visibility  of  these  manifestations  is  calculated  greatly 
to  enhance  their  moral  influence.  They  most  strik- 
ingly exhibit  the  malignity  of  sin,  the  degradation 
and  misery  consequent  upon  it,  the  wonders  of  divine 
mercy,  and  the  beauty  of  holiness.  Taken  altogether, 
they  may  be  supposed  to  present  all  possible  forms 
and  degrees  of  evil  and  of  good  ;  all  possible  con- 
trasts of  sin  and  misery,  with  holiness  and  happiness; 
and  all  possible  conditions  and  trials  of  free  agency 
in  creatures,  together  with  the  riches  of  the  wisdom 
and  knowledge  of  God. 

4.  Now  it  is  supposed  that  the  nature  and  objects  of 
this  entire  procedure,  require  a  continuance  of  similar 
manifestations,  and  an  outward  and  visible  triumph, 
and  exhibition  of  divine  supremacy  and  glory,  at  its 
consummation,  on  the  theatre  of  its  earlier  progress 
and  of  its  great  events,  the  apostacy,  the  hostile  agen- 
cy of  Satan,  the  humiliation  and  suflTerings  of  Christ, 
the  recovery  and  rescue  of  the  redeemed.  To  the 
vision  of  the  prophets,  accordingly,  such  manifesta- 
tions are  supposed  to  have  been  depicted.  In  the 
portraitures  vouchsafed  to  them  of  the  future,  they  are 
supposed  to  have  seen  the  personal  advent  of  the  Son 
of  God  in  power  and  great  glory  with  his  holy  angels, 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  173 

wresting  the  empire  of  the  world  from  the  great  ad- 
versary, subverting  Antichrist,  and  all  idolatry  and 
wickedness,  conquering  and  imprisoning  Satan  and 
his  host,  raising  the  dead,  renewing  the  earth,  and 
establishing  the  throne  of  his  righteous  and  everlast- 
ing kingdom. 

5.  If  he  created  and  governs  the  world  in  order  to 
manifest  the  Divine  perfections  by  his  works  of  provi- 
dence and  grace;  if  he  became  incarnate  for  this  pur- 
pose; if  for  this  he  has  maintained  a  protracted  con- 
flict with  Satan  and  his  faction,  and  will  at  length 
visit  upon  them  the  retributions  of  justice,  it  is  but 
reasonable  to  expect  that  the  closing  of  the  scene 
should,  in  the  grandeur  of  the  manifestations  to  be 
made,  exceed  those  which  preceded;  that  the  majesty 
of  his  person,  tlie  glorjf  of  his  mediatorial  office,  the 
greatness  of  his  triumph  over  all  enemies,  the  magni- 
ficence of  his  regal  state,  the  ^^erfect  vindication  of  all 
his  ways,  the  exaltation  and  bliss  of  his  followers,  the 
renovation  of  the  earth,  the  undivided  homage  of 
saints  and  angels,  should  be  publicly  and  conspicu- 
ously displayed  to  the  whole  universe. 

6.  If  the  office  and  work  of  the  Mediator  comprised 
the  creation  of  angels  and  of  the  material  universe, 
as  well  as  the  dispensations  and  events  which  relate 
directly  to  man;  if  the  method  of  outward  and  visible 
manifestation,  has  relation  as  well  to  angels  as  to 
men,  and  if  it  was  in  this  view  a  necessary  adjunct 
of  the  moral  system  ;  then  it  is  supposed  to  be  in  har- 
mony with  all   the  conditions  and  purposes  of  the 


174  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

scheme  that  its  consummation  should  be  signalized 
by  the  visible  presence,  rule,  and  triumph  of  the 
Mediator. 

7.  Such  a  result  is  inferred  also  from  those  Scrip- 
tures, which  relate  to  the  union  in  Him  of  all  holy 
beings  in  heaven  and  earth,  as  a  leading  and  ultimate 
purpose  of  his  mediation  ;  as  in  Ephesians  i.  9-11 : 
"Having  made  known  unto  us  the  mystery  of  his 
will,  according  to  his  good  pleasure,  which  he  hath 
purposed  in  himself:  that  in  the  dispensation  of  the 
fullness  of  time  [the  final  dispensation],  he  might  gather 
together  in  one,  all  things  in  Christ,  both  which  are 
in  heaven,  and  which  are  on  earth,  even  in  him:  in 
whom  we  also  have  obtained  an  inheritance,  being 
predestinated  according  to  the  purpose  of  Him,  who 
worketh  all  things  after  the  counsel  of  his  own  will." 
And  Rev.  v.  11-13.  "And  I  beheld,  and  I  heard 
the  voice  of  many  angels  round  about  the  throne, 
and  the  beasts  and  the  elders ;  and  the  number  of 
them  was  ten  thousand  times  ten  thousand,  and  thou- 
sands of  thousands  ;  saying  with  a  loud  voice,  worthy 
is  the  Lamb  that  was  slain,  to  receive  power,  and 
riches,  and  wisdom,  and  strength,  and  honor,  and 
glory,  and  blessing  :  and  every  creature  which  is  in 
heaven,  and  on  the  earth,  and  under  the  earth,  and 
such  as  are  in  the  sea,  and  all  that  are  in  them,  heard 
I  saying,  Blessing,  and  honor,  and  glory,  and  power, 
be  unto  Him  that  sitteth  upon  the  throne,  and  unto 
the  Lamb  forever  and  ever."  See  also,  Colossians  i. 
10  J  Heb.  xii.  22,  23  j  Heb.  i.  2,  6. 

8.  Man,  in  his  state  of  apostacy  and  rebellion,  was 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  175 

truly  opposed  to  the  angels  who  persevered  in  their 
allegiance,  as  to  his  Creator.  His  course  of  revolt 
was  at  war  with  their  fidelity  and  happiness,  and  a 
reconciliation  to  them  and  to  God  was  hindered  by 
the  same  obstacle.  The  mediatorial  work,  therefore, 
had  reference  in  this  respect  to  angels  and  men,  and 
hence  they  jointly  worship,  serve  and  praise  the  Me- 
diator. 

9.  The  rebellion  of  Satan  and  his  angels,  and  that 
of  man,  constituted  an  open  and  public  revolt  against 
the  authority  and  government  of  God,  the  prosecution 
of  which  has  been  signalized,  on  the  part  of  man,  by 
outward  and  visible  acts  of  wickedness,  and  on  the  part 
of  Satan  by  ceaseless  hostility  to  the  Mediator  and  the 
measures  of  his  administration.  The  scene  and  object 
of  his  machinations,  brought  him  into  immediate  con- 
nection with  material  and  visible  things,  on  which  ac- 
count it  may  be  supposed  to  be  necessary  that  his  pro- 
ceedings, in  their  connection  with  the  visible  conduct  of 
man,  should  be  counteracted  and  eventually  triumphed 
over  by  public  and  visible  displays  of  the  supremacy 
and  power  of  Christ.  That  course  of  diabolical  and 
human  wickedness  combined,  which,  for  example, 
has  been  exhibited  in  the  wide-spread  and  impious 
system  of  idolatrous  worship,  in  the  proscriptions  and 
martyrdoms  of  prophets,  apostles,  and  confessors,  the 
persecutions  of  the  church,  and  the  wars  of  nations — 
whereby  the  lives  of  multitudes,  of  whom  the  world 
was  not  worthy,  have  been  sacrificed,  the  Divine 
authority  has  been  set  at  naught,  the  cause  of  re- 
bellion maintained,  and  the  subversion  of  the  church 


176  THE     MEDIATORIAL     Vv'  0  R  K . 

attempted,  may  be  supposed  to  require  a  counterpart 
of  signal  and  visible  retribution,  such  as  is  referred  to 
in  one  of  the  scenes  of  the  Apocalypse,  chap.  vi.  9, 
10  :  "  And  when  he  had  opened  the  fifth  seal,  I  saw 
under  the  altar  the  souls  of  them  that  were  slain  for 
the  word  of  God,  and  for  the  testimony  which  they 
held  ;  and  they  cried  with  a  loud  voice,  saying,  How 
long,  O  Lord,  holy  and  true,  dost  thou  not  judge  and 
avenge  our  blood  on  them  that  dwell  on  the  earth? 
And  white  robes  were  given  unto  every  one  of  them, 
and  it  was  said  unto  them,  that  they  should  rest  yet 
for  a  little  season,  until  their  fellow-servants  also, 
and  their  brethren  that  should  be  killed  as  they  were, 
should  be  fulfilled."  Under  the  next  seal,  the  visita- 
tion of  judgment  is  set  forth  under  the  most  striking 
figures  derived  from  the  convulsions  of  the  physical 
and  political  worlds,  and  from  the  consternation  of 
the  wicked,  wiio  are  represented  as  calling  to  the 
rocks  and  mountains  to  fall  on  them  and  hide  them 
from  the  face  of  him  that  sitteth  on  the  throne,  and 
from  the  wrath  of  the  Lamb.  In  like  manner,  the 
retributive  dispensations  recorded  in  the  Scriptures  as 
having  been  inflicted,  were  conspicuously  public  and 
visible;  and  with  respect  to  those  which  are  threaten- 
ed and  future,  the  heavens  and  earth,  angels  and 
saints,  apostles  and  martyrs,  are  called  on  to  rejoice, 
as  if  beholding  in  them  the  supremacy,  righteousness 
and  glory  of  the  mediatorial  King.  Psalmxcvi.il- 
14;  Jeremiah  li.  47,  49;  Rev.  xviii.  20;  xix.  1,  2. 
In  Rev.  xiv.  10,  it  is  said,  that  they  who  worship  the 
beast  and  his  image,  shall  be  tormented  "  in  the 
presence  of  the  holy  angels,  and  in  the  presence  of 
the  Lamb." 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  177 

10.  The  course  of  divine  dispensations  in  relation  to 
the  Jews,  has  been  so  marked  by  outward  and  visible 
manifestations,  the  ministry  of  angels,  and  the  an- 
nouncements of  prophecy,  as  to  appear  strongly  to 
indicate  the  probability,  at  least,  of  a  renewal  of  visible 
interpositions  in  respect  to  them,  and  in  the  consum- 
mation of  the  system  with  which  they  are  connected. 

11.  The  present  or  Gentile  dispensation,  or  times  of 
the  Gentiles,  during  which  Jerusalem  is  to  be  trodden 
down,  and  of  which  the  termination  is  to  be  coincident 
with  that  of  the  repudiation  of  the  ancient  covenant 
people,  presents  a  course  of  events  with  respect  to  that 
people,  and  to  the  Christian  church  and  the  world, 
likely,  it  is  supposed,  from  the  general  analogy  of  the 
system,  to  be  followed  by  visible  exhibitions,  on  the 
part  of  the  mediator,  of  a  far  more  striking  and  deci- 
sive character  than  those  of  any  preceding  series. 

12.  Under  the  Jewish  dispensation,  with  its  oracular 
announcements  and  teachings  of  inspiration,  its  sys- 
tem of  legal  and  ceremonial  services  and  restraints, 
its  judgments  and  mercies,  its  miracles  and  wonders, 
the  depths  of  human  depravity  and  the  inefficacy  of 
such  instrumentalities  to  overcome  it,  were  sufiiciently 
demonstrated  to  show  the  necessity  of  the  atonement, 
and  of  that  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  which  is  emphati- 
cally termed  a  new  creation. 

13.  Under  the  Gentile  dispensation,  a  far  different 
trial  of  man  and  of  means  and  inducements  for  his 
reformation  and  recovery  is  made.     The  atonement 


178  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

having  been  accomplislicd  ;  ihc  mission  of  the  Spirit 
granted;  the  exclusiveness  of  the  Jewish  system  abo- 
lished; the  way  of  salvation  clearl}^  revealed,  life  and 
immortality  brought  to  light,  the  door  of  mercy  set 
open,  and  the  most  powerful  motives  to  obedience 
addressed  to  the  hearts  and  consciences  of  men;  there 
has  been  presented,  in  proportion  as  the  light  and  ad- 
vantages have  exceeded  those  of  the  preceding  period, 
a  more  surprising  exhibition  of  the  depravity  of  Jiian, 
than  before,  and  of  the  insulRciency  of  motives,  know- 
ledge, persuasion,  ordinances,  promises  and  threaten- 
ings,  to  effect  in  him  a  saving  change.  The  gospel, 
under  the  ministry  of  the  Apostles  and  their  immediate 
successors,  was,  by  extraordinary  effusions  of  the  Spirit, 
rendered  extensively  and  rapidly  successful.  But 
soon  its  glory  was  obscured  and  its  efficacy  hindered, 
by  the  prevalence  of  error  in  doctrine,  a  growing  de- 
pendence on  human  efforts  and  outward  forms,  and 
the  indulgence  of  pride,  woildliness  and  all  the  forms 
of  outward  evil,  and  every  species  of  internal  corrup- 
tion. Under  these  circumstances  the  churches,  even 
those  of  Asia,  the  most  flourishing  and  purest  perhaps 
of  those  planted  by  tlie  Apostles,  declined  and  became 
corrupt  and  extinct.  The  great  truths  of  the  gospel 
were  obscured  and  suppressed;  error,  delusion,  super- 
stition and  idolatry  prevailed  over  the  nominal  Chris- 
tian world.  The  like  experience  on  the  continent  of 
Eurojie  followed  the  effusion  of  the  Spirit  and  the 
revival  of  the  pure  doctrines  of  the  gospel,  at  the 
Reformation,  though  this  occasion  was  distinguished  by 
some  extraordinary  circumstances,  which,  to  human 
view,  were  adapted  to  support]the  cause  of  truth  and 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  179 

righteousness,  and  to  deter  the  church  and  the  world 
from  relapsing  again  into  falsehood,  delusion  and 
darkness.  The  enormities  of  imposture,  idolatr}^, 
tyranny  and  corruption  of  the  Romish  system,  were 
exposed  to  public  view;  the  Scriptures  were  translated 
into  various  languages,  and  by  the  art  of  printing  were 
,  dispersed  abroad  among  tlie  people ;  the  sway  of 
ecclesiastical  tyranny  was  checked,  and  the  rights  of 
conscience  were  extensively  recognized.  With  these 
and  other  important  circumstances  in  its  favor,  the 
cause  of  truth  would  have  been  maintained,  had  it 
depended  upon  the  wisdom  and  virtue  even  of  sancti- 
fied man  to  perpetuate  it.  But  who  can  bring  a  clean 
thing  out  of  an  unclean'?  The  spectators  of  this  scene, 
visible  and  invisible,  were  yet  to  be  more  fully  inform- 
ed and  convinced  of  the  nature  and  desperateness  of 
the  apostacy  and  depravity  of  man,  and  the  total  in- 
sufficiency of  everything  of  the  nature  of  means  and 
instruments,  everything  short  of  the  power  of  Goc!,  to 
rescue  him  from  tlie  dominion  of  Satan,  renew  him, 
bring  him  under  tlie  covenant  and  into  the  relations 
of  the  spiritual  kingdom  of  Christ,  and  preserve  him 
through  faith  unto  salvation.  It  was  yet  to  be  more 
fully  and  convincingly  shown  that  apostacy  from  God 
is  an  evil  so  enormous,  so  deadly,  that  to  obviate  and 
surmount  it,  under  any  possible  circumstances,  the 
efforts  of  creatures  are  as  futile,  as  they  would  be 
to  create  a  world;  that  they  are  as  inadequate  since 
as  they  were  before  the  atonement  was  made;  as 
ineflfeetual  under  the  Christian  as  under  the  Jewish 
dispensation;  and  that  Christ  came  indeed  to  save  that 
which  was  lost,  to  redeem  souls  that  were  in  a  state 


180  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

of  enmity  and  opposition  to  Him,  under  condemnation, 
and  held  in  captivity  by  their  destroyer;  and  that  to 
Christ  alone  is  their  redemption  and  deliverance  to  be 
ascribed. 

14.  The  Gentile  dispensation,  instead  of  being- 
merely  a  sequel  and  improvement  of  the  Jewish,  is 
rather  to  be  considered  as  founded  on  different  prin- 
ciples, and  as  accomplishing-  its  objects  in  a  different 
'way.  It  is  a  dispensation  of  grace,  and  has  for  its 
special  object,  that  of  taking  out  of  different  nations 
an  elect  people  unto  the  name  of  the  Lord.  The 
Jewish  was  a  dispensation  of  law,  and  of  types  and 
carnal  ordinances.  The  present  is  a  dispensation  of 
the  Spirit.  The  former  embraced  a  nation.  The 
latter  recognizes  as  its  subjects  those  only  in  whose 
hearts  that  spiritual  kingdom  is  established  which 
consists  in  righteousness  and  peace  and  joy  in  the 
Holy  Ghost.  "  The  dispensation  of  the  fullness  of 
times,"  which  is^to  succeed  the  present,  will,  it  is  sup- 
posed, be  one  of  visible  manifestation  of  the  presence, 
power,  triumph,  and  reign  of  the  Mediator  in  his 
kingly  office. 

15.  The  effect  of  such  visible  manifestation,  in  per- 
son, with  all  the  accompaniments  of  majesty  and 
glory,  may  well  be  supposed  to  be  such  as  appears  to 
be  intimated  in  those  Scriptures  which  refer  to  the 
subject — the  overthrow  of  Antichrist,  the  confinement 
of  Satan,  the  conversion  of  multitudes,  &c. 

Such  a  manifestation,  with  respect  to  the  conversion 
of  the  Jews,  would,  it  may  be  presumed,  be  decisive, 


THE     MEDIATORIAL    WORK.  181 

in  relation  to  the  necessary  change  in  the  convictions 
of  their  understandings,  and  removal  of  their  un- 
belief. 

In  the  case  of  Paul,  to  whom  he  personally  ap- 
peared, saying,  "  I  have  appeared  to  thee  for  this 
purpose,  to  make  thee  a  minister  and  a  witness  both 
of  those  tilings  which  thou  hast  seen,  and  of  those 
things  in  the  which  I  will  appear  unto  tliee,"  Acts 
xxvi.  16,  all  doubt,  unbelief,  and  hesitation  appear 
to  have  been  instantly  removed.  He  '  saw  a  light 
from  heaven,  above  the  brightness  of  the  sun,  and 
heard  a  voice  speaking  unto  him.' 

If  the  glory  of  the  future  is  to  surpass  that  of  tlie 
earlier  periods,  must  we  not  expect  that  such  visible 
manifestations  as  have  heretofore  been  most  glorious, 
will  be  more  abundantly  exhibited  hereafter?  If 
miracles  have  at  former  periods  attended  and  sig- 
nalized the  personal  manifestations  of  the  Mediator, 
what  can  be  more  congruous,  more  probable,  or  more 
scriptural,  than  the  expectation  that  the  future  will 
be  characterized  by  similar  and'more  glorious  inter- 
positions of  that  nature  ? 

16.  Now  since  the  introduction  and  the  progress 
hitherto  of  this  great  scene  have  been  so  largely  and 
strikingly  characterized  by  outward  and  visible  mani- 
festations, both  on  the  part  of  the  Son  of  God  in  the 
works  of  creation  and  providence,  the  moral  govern- 
ment of  the  world,  the  revelation  of  his  will,  the  in- 
terposition of  miracles,  the  institution,  preservation, 
ordinances  and  government  of  the  church,  the  dis- 
pensations of  temporal  evils  and  retributions  to  the 
9* 


182  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

Avicked,  and  his  incarnation,  obedience,  death,  resur- 
rection, ascension,  recognition  on  high,  and  reception 
of  the  homage  of  the  heavenly  hosts ;  and  on  the 
part  of  fallen  beings  in  the  whole  course  of  their  re- 
bellion and  wickedness :  and  since  the  objects  of  these 
manifestations,  the  information  and  instruction  of  the 
whole  universe  of  intelligent  creatures,  the  union  of 
all  holy  beings,  the  vindication  of  the  Divine  govern- 
ment, and  subversion  of  all  opposition  to  it,  and  in 
the  final  result,  the  fulfillment  of  the  joy  set  before 
the  Mediator  ;  it  is  deemed  every  way  natural  and 
congruous  that  the  closing,  like  the  preceding  exhi- 
bitions, should  be  visible  and  public,  to  be  observed 
in  like  manner,  and  differing  from  them  only  by  their 
surpassing  splendor,  and  the  visible  grandeur  and 
majesty  of  their  occurrence. 

17.  If  the  manifestation  of  the  Divine  perfections 
by  outward  and  visible  means  was  the  original  pur- 
pose of  the  material  creation,  then  may  it  continue 
to  be  instrumental  in  accomplishing  that  purpose 
during  the  whole  period  of  such  manifestation.  If  it 
was  not  inconsistent  with  the  majesty  and  glory  of 
the  Son  of  God  to  take  matter  into  connection  with 
his  person,  then  may  it  be  consistent  for  him  to  reign 
on  earth,  and  to  put  such  glory  upon  that  nature  in 
which  he  had  endured  the  cross  and  triumphed  in  his 
conflict  with  the  powers  of  darkness,  as  to  render  it  fit 
that  he  should  visibly  in  his  glorified  body  receive  the 
homage  of  angels  and  men.  And  since  it  is  made 
known  to  us  that  the  ph3'sical  nature  of  man  is  capa- 
ble of  such  transformation  and  refinement,  as  to  render 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  183 

it  like  unto  the  g-lorified  body  of  Christ,  there  can  be 
nothing  improbable  in  the  supposition  that  the  earth 
itself  may  be  so  renovated,  purified  and  adorned,  as  to 
be  a  congenial  and  fit  abode  of  redeemed  and  glorified 
beings,  and  of  sucli  transcendent  visible  manifestations 
as  may  attend  the  regal  glory  and  triumph  of  Imma- 
nuel.  The  earth,  in  the  perfect  state  in  which  it  was 
created,  was  designed  and  fitted  to  be  the  perpetual 
abode  of  man,  in  case  of  his  obedience — the  enduring 
scene  of  his  immortality  in  holiness  and  happiness. 
The  curse  and  blight  which  ensued  upon  his  apos- 
tacy,  rendered  it  fit  only  for  the  abode  of  a  fallen  race. 
But  it  is  the  part  of  the  second  Adam,  the  Lord  from 
heaven,  to  supercede  that  curse,  retrieve  the  ruins  of 
the  fall,  and  renovate  and  restore  the  earth  to  its 
original  perfection,  and  fit  it  to  be  the  abode  of  the 
ransomed  in  a  state  of  holiness  and  happiness  superior 
to  that  which  would  have  resulted  had  the  apostacy 
not  taken  place  ; — -superior  on  account  of  their  asso- 
ciations and  relations  to  Him,  in  consequence  of  His 
interposition.  Thus  while  the  works  of  Satan  will 
be  destroyed,  his  designs  and  purposes  defeated,  and 
the  revolt  of  man  overcome,  the  original  design  and 
appropriation  of  the  earth  will  be  signally  and  glori- 
ously accomplished. 

18.  For  since  the  trial  and  apostacy  of  an  order  of 
spiritual  beings,  gave  place  to  a  wider  and  far  diflferent 
course  of  things  in  connection  with  matciial  existences 
and  visible  exhibitions,  commenced  and  carried  for- 
ward to  the  present  time  in  the  view  of  the  intelligent 
universe,  it  would  seem  reasonable  to  expect  that  its 


184  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

consummation  should  be  of  like  character,  and  to 
construe  the  propliecies  accordingly,  in  so  far  as  they 
appear  to  forwarn  us  of  outward  and  visible  manifesta- 
tions. It  would  seem  repugnant  to  the  analogy  of  the 
whole  procedure  hitherto,  to  suppose  that  the  hosts 
of  rebellion  and  wickedness,  after  so  long  a  career  of 
outward  conflict,  should  be  finally  subverted  by  a 
spiritual  and  invisible  influence;  that  in  the  destruc- 
tion of  those  enemies  there  should  be  an  exercise  only 
of  Omnipotent  power,  instead  of  such  a  manifestation 
of  the  divine  perfections  by  the  Mediator  as  had  pre- 
viously been  exhibited,  and  as  would  comport  with 
the  closing  of  such  a  scene,  Avherein  the  Divine  govern- 
ment is  to  be  fully  vindicated,  and  the  most  striking 
contrasts  of  holiness  and  sin,  justice  and  mercy,  are 
to  be  presented,  and  the  work  of  redemption  triumph- 
antly finished ;  or  to  suppose  that  the  holy  angels  after 
witnessing  a  prolonged  visible  conflict  with  the  powers 
of  darkness,  the  introduction  of  scenes  and  trains  of 
events  not  yet  completed,  and  the  occurrence  of  com- 
binations and  proceedings  of  apparently  doubtful  issue, 
should  not  witness  a  consummation  characterized  by 
the  like  forms  of  manifestation. 

19.  If  the  manifestations  of  the  Divine  perfections 
provided  for  in  this  great  scene,  required  the  presence 
and  instrumentality  of  material  existences  and  accom- 
paniments, and  if  this  world  was  appointed  to  be  the 
scene  of  those  manifestations  in  their  commencement 
and  early  progress,  then  it  cannot  be  objected  to  on 
account  of  its  insignificance,  or  its  physical  nature,  as 
unfit  or  unsuited  to  be  the  scene  of  the  like  manifes- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  185 

tations  during  the  whole  period  and  at  the  close  of  the 
entire  dispensation.     If  it  was  suited  to  be  the  scene 
of  the  humiliation  and  vicarious  sufferings  of  the  Re- 
deemer, it  may  be  no  less  suited  to  be  the  scene  of  his 
public  and  visible  triumph  over  all  enemies,  exaltation 
of  his  friends,  and  glorious  consummation  of  his  work. 
If  it  was  adapted  to  be  the  scene  of  those  manifesta- 
tions which  attended  his  presence  in  the  tabernacle, 
and  the  exercise  of  his  authority  as  chief  magistrate 
and  ruler  of  his  chosen  people  in  the  wilderness,  it 
may  be  no  less  adapted  to  be  the  scene  of  the  counter- 
part of  those  manifestations,  his  visible  reign  over  his 
redeemed  people,  as  head  over  all  things  to  the  church. 
Assuredly  the  theatre  of  manifestation  derives  its  im- 
portance, not  from  its  physical  extent,  nor  from  the 
number  or  consequence  of  its  inhabitants,  but  from  the 
nature  of  the  manifestations  themselves.     These,  by 
contrast  with  the  comparative   insignificance  of  the 
place  of  exhibition,  may   have  a  glory  and  a  signifi- 
cance not  possible  under  any   other   circumstances. 
Thus,  in  the  most  wonderful  and  surprising  instance, 
when  the  eternal  Son  took  on  him  the  nature,  not  of 
angels,  but  of  men,  he  took  the  form  of  a  servant, 
and  sojourned  with  persons  in  the  humblest  walks  of 
life.     They  who  looked  for  displays  of  worldly  pride 
and  grandeur  were  offended ;  but  to  the  intelligent 
universe  the  manifestations  of  the  Divine  perfections 
which  were  made  in  this  scene,  were  doubtless  of  such 
engrossing  interest  and  surpassing  glory,  that  they 
could  be  aided  only  by  the  widest  contrast  with  the 
terrestrial  and  outward  circumstances  of  their  exhibi- 
tion— such  that  a  display  of  worldly  greatness,  pride 


186  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

or  power,  would  have  been  to  the  last  degree  incon- 
gruous. 

20.  Now  in  view  of  the  outward  and  visible  mani- 
festations which  have  marked  the  progress  of  the 
mediatorial  work  hitherto,  an  analogy  ib  presented 
strongly  favoring  that  construction  of  the  prophecies 
which  indicates  a  future  period  of  far  more  conspicious 
and  glorious  exhibitions  of  the  person  and  rule  of  the 
Mediator,  than  have  yet  been  made. 

21.  The  atonement  accomplished  by  the  sufferings 
and  death  of  Christ,  who  l)ore  the  penalty  of  the 
broken  law,  and  satisfied  the  claims  of  justice,  was  the 
decisive  measure  in  the  mediatorial  work,  by  which 
the  success  of  the  entire  system  was  rendered  certain; 
that  measure  by  which  the  policy  of  the  great  adver- 
sary was  confounded,  his  rebellion  checked,  and  his 
power  broken;  that  by  which  the  pardon  and  salvation 
of  sinners  was  rendered  consistent  with  righteousness; 
that  by  which  all  holy  beings  were  brought  into  rela- 
tions of  harmony  and  fellowship.  Hence  the  promi- 
nence given  to  this  measure  in  the  typical  rites  of  the 
Jewish  dispensation,  and  its  answerable  conspicuity 
in  their  fulfillment  on  the  cross.  And  hence  likewise 
the  union  of  saints  and  angels  at  the  close  of  the  scene, 
in  acts  of  worship  and  praise  to  the  lamb  that  was 
slain. 

22.  The  manifestations  hitherto  made  in  addition 
to  those  incident  to  the  works  of  Creation,  relate  es- 
pecially to  the  prophetic  and  sacerdotal  offices  of  the 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  187 

Mediator.  These,  in  connection  witli  the  administra- 
tion of  the  Spirit  in  the  effectual  application  of  the 
Gospel  to  the  elect,  are  preliminary.  His  regal  office 
is  yet  to  be  signalized  in  the  triumph  and  consumma- 
tion of  his  v/ork,  the  destruction  of  his  enemies,  and 
the  universal  acknowledgment  of  his  supremacy  and 
glory.  It  would  seem  to  be  in  keeping  with  the  a,na- 
logy,  tendency  and  purpose  of  the  wliole  procedure, 
that  its  results  in  his  triumphant  reign  should  be  as 
remarkable  for  the  greatness  and  splendor  of  visible 
manifestations — in  comparison  with  a  preceding  state 
of  humiliation  and  suffering — as  an  exhibition  of  regal 
triumph  can  be  in  comparison  with  a  state  of  poverty, 
lowliness  and  persecution. 

23.  In  conformity  with  this  view  and  anticipation, 
we  are  given  to  understand  that  on  taking  possession 
of  his  kingdom,  he  will  dissolve  and  remodel  the 
earth  and  its  atmosphere,  restoring  them  to  a  state 
suited,  as'they  were  originally,  to  be  the  abode  of  the 
righteous.  "  By  the  word  of  God  the  Heavens  were 
of  old,  and  the  earth  standing  out  of  the  water,  and 
in  the  water ;  whereby,  the  world  that  then  Avas, 
being  overflowed  with  water,  perished  ;"  that  is,  says 
MacKnight,  "lost  its  primitive  constitution  and  form, 
by  which  means,  and  b}^  the  alteration  made  in  its 
atmosphere,  it  became  a  habitation  less  healthy  and 
fruitful,  and  less  pleasant  than  formerly;  as  may  be 
gathered  from  the  shortening  of  the  life  of  man  after 
the  flood,  and  the  present  appearance  of  the  earth 
which  is  that  of  a  ruin." 

24.  "  The  everlasting  possession  of  Canaan  which 


188  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

was  promised  to  all  the  seed,  and  which  must  be  sure 
to  them  all,  means  the  possession  of  a  greater  and 
better  and  more  enduring  country  than  the  earthly 
Canaan,  and  of  which  the  earthly  Canaan  was  the 
emblem  or  type.  Now,  what  country  can  that  be, 
which  all  believers  are  to  inherit  forever,  but  the  new 
heaven,  and  the  new  earth,  which  Peter  tells  us  the 
righteous  expect  to  dwell  in,  after  the  destruction  of 
the  present  material  fabric?  And  as  they  are  to  pos- 
sess it  after  they  regain  their  bodies,  it  must  be  a  ma- 
terial habitation,  suited  to  tlie  incorruptible  and 
immortal  nature  of  their  new  l)odies.  This  also  St. 
Paul  hath  shown,  by  telling  us  that  Abraham  and  his 
seed  were  made  'heirs  of  the  world,'  by  God's  prom- 
ise, Romans,  iv.  13.  In  like  manner  Christ  hath 
shown  this,  when  he  said,  Luke,  xx.  25.  '  They 
which  are  counted  worthy  to  receive  that  world,'  &c. 
This  creation  of  the  new  heaven  and  the  new  earth, 
our  Apostle,  in  his  sermon  to  the  Jews,  hath  called, 
'  the  restitution  of  all  things,  which  God  hath  spoken 
by  the  mouth  of  all  his  holy  Prophets,  since  the  world 
began,'  Acts,  iii.  21.  Our  Lord  himself  hath  expressly 
told  us,  that  his  disciples  are  not  to  be  received  into 
the  place  he  hath  gone  to  prepare  for  them,  till  he 
come,'  again.  The  new  heaven  and  the  new  earth 
are  the  common  expectation  of  all  Christians,  who 
are  therefore  admonished  to  endeavor  earnestly  to  be 
found  of  Christ,  spotless  and  irreproachable,  in  peace." 
— Ibid.,  JYotes  on  2  Peter,  iii.  13. 

25.  From  the  various  Scriptures  which  refer  to  the 
subject,  it  is  quite  evident  that  our  Lord's  kingly 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  189 

office  and  reigii  has  a  relation  to  the  material  world, 
and  to  saints  and  men  with  material  bodies,  and  will 
partake  largely  of  outward  and  visible  manifestations. 
The  resurrection  of  his  own  body  as  the  earnest  and 
pattern  of  the  resurrection  of  his  saints ;  his  bodily 
ascent  into  heaven,  and  the  assurance  that  he  will  so 
come  in  like  manner  as  he  was  seen  to  ascend ;  the 
scene  at  his  transfiguration,  and  the  references  through- 
out the  Old  and  New  Testaments,  to  his  titles  and 
office-work  as  king,  the  events  to  be  accomplished 
under  his  triumphant  rule,  and  the  association  of  his 
redeemed  people  with  him  as  their  captain,  leader, 
and  elder  brother,  may  be  cited  in  support  of  this 
view. 

26.  An  illustration  tending  to  the  same  conclusion 
may  be  derived  from  the  course  pursued  by  the  great 
adversary,  .since  his  incipient  vanquishment  and 
subjugation  during  our  Lord's  personal  presence  on 
earth,  in  his  strenuous  and  ceaseless  effi)rts  to  corrupt, 
counterfeit,  and  oppose  the  Gospel,  and  exterminate 
the  church.  While  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel 
was  sustained  by  the  visible  results  of  miraculous  in- 
terpositions, these  efforts  were  employed  in  bloody 
and  relentless  persecutions,  through  the  instrumen- 
tality of  the  hosts  and  powers  of  paganism  which  were 
still  left  subject  to  his  domination.  To  these  succeeded 
the  propagation  of  error  and  falsehood,  and  the  ad- 
vance of  the  mystery  of  iniquity,  with  all  power  and 
signs  and  lying  wonders,  and  all  deceivableness  of 
unrighteousness  ;  resulting,  as  if  in  anticipation  and 
imitation  of  the  visible  supremacy  and  reign  of  the 
Head  of  the  Church,  and  King  of  Kings,  in  the  estab- 


190  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

lislimcnt  of  a  counterfeit  Church,  usurping  all  autho- 
rity over  the  world,  and  combining  in  its  head  the 
prophetical,  sacerdotal  and  regal  offices,  and  in  its  pro- 
ceedings, all  possible  show  of  outward  jjomp,  supre- 
macy and  rule. 

27.  This  view  of  the  mediatorial  work  in  respect 
to  its  scope,  and  the  sublimity  and  glorj'-  of  its  con- 
summation is  commended  to  the  faith  and  hope  of 
those  who  look  for  and  desire  the  glorious  appearing 
of  the  great  God,  even  our  Saviour  Jesus  Christ, 
"  who  shall  change  our  vile  body,  that  it  may  be 
fashioned  like  unto  his  glorious  body,  according  to 
the  working,  whereby  he  is  able  even  to  subdue  all 
things  unto  himself." — Phil.  iii.  21. 

28.  That  the  manifestations  to  be  made  by  Christ 
when  he  shall  "  come  again" — when  he  shall  come 
to  destroy  Antichrist  and  expel  the  great  adversary 
from  the  earth,  will  be  such  as  relate  especially  to 
his  regal  office,  may  with  great  confidence  be  inferred 
from  several  other  considerations.  The  general  strain 
and  apparent  import  of  tlie  prophetic  announcements 
which  refer  to  him  as  king,  and  the  nature  of  the 
events  predicted,  the  total  overthrow  and  subjugation 
of  enemies,  which  moral  and  spiritual  influences  Iiad 
failed  to  subdue,  may  be  referred  to  in  support  of  this 
view.  So  also  tlie  altered  state  of  the  church  in  re- 
spect to  its  ecclesiastical  and  external  aspect,  relations 
and  rites.  Tlie  church  hitherto  has  been,  and  until 
the  time  referred  to  will  remain,  in  a  depressed  and 
suffering  condition.  It  is  then  to  triumph.  In  its 
relations  to  the  world  it  has  been  su])ject  to  opposition 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  191 

and  persecution.  It  is  then  to  be  exempted  fiom 
enemies.  Its  ordinances  have  been  adapted  to  its 
imperfect  and  suffering  condition,  commemorative  of 
its  initiatory  state,  and  of  the  humiliation  and  suffer- 
ings of  the  absent  Lord  and  Redeemer.  A  great 
change  in  these  respects  is  to  take  place  when  he 
comes  again.  In  regard  to  the  holy  supper,  it  is 
said,  "  as  often  as  ye  eat  of  this  hread  and  drink  of 
this  cup,  ye  do  shew  forth  the  Lord's  death  till  he 
come  ;"  apparently  signifying  that  when  he  comes 
that  commemoration  will  no  longer  be  required  or 
appropriate  ;  that  its  use  as  a  remembrancer  of  his 
death  will  be  superceded  by  his  presence,  and  the 
new  and  wondrous  scene  of  regal  majesty  and  glory 
in  which  he  will  appear.  If  the  language  imports  a 
cessation  of  the  ordinance  when  he  comes,  something 
more  than  a  spiritual  coming,  something  diverse  from 
what  characterizes  the  present  dispensation,  must  be 
inferred. 

"  Be  patient,  therefore,  brethren,  unto  the  coming 
of  the  Lord.  Behold,  the  husbandman  waiteth  for  the 
precious  fruit  of  the  earth,  and  hath  long  patience  for 
it — be  ye  also  patient — stablish  your  hearts,  for  the 
coming  of  the  Lord  draweth  nigh." — James  v.  7,  8. 
These,  and  many  other  exhortations  of  similar  import, 
imply  that  a  new  and  quite  different  state  of  things 
externally  would  attcDd  the  coming  of  Christ;  that  he 
would  then  manifest  himself  in  some  new  and  extra- 
ordinary manner  on  their  behalf,  so  that  the  patience 
required  by  their  present  dcpresssed  and  suffering 
state  would  no  longer  be  required,  their  cause  would 
be  vindicated,  they  would  have  a  present  and  power- 
ful protector.     They  had  now  his  spiritual  presence. 


192  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

They  would  (hen  behold  iheir  King,  the  conqueror 
of  their  enemies,  the  giver  of  victory  and  triumph  to 
his  people. 

29.  Much  of  what  is  future  in  relation  to  the  king- 
dom and  administration  of  the  Mediator,  will,  it  is 
evident,  have  all  the  characters  of  outward  and  visi- 
ble manifestation.  The  church  of  Christ  will  con- 
tinue to  be  a  visible  body,  visible  to  men  and  angels, 
on  earth  and  in  heaven.  On  earth,  it  will  continue 
to  be  composed  of  those  who  publicly  profess  and 
visibly  appear  to  be  followers  of  Christ ;  and  in  hea- 
ven, it  will  appear  and  be  recognized  as  the  purchased 
possession,  the  mystical  body,  the  redeemed  family 
of  Christ. 

Until  tlie  final  subjugation  of  all  enemies,  the  con- 
duct of  wicked  men  will  continue  to  be  a  visible 
spectacle  to  angels  and  men. 

Death  and  its  attendant  circumstances  will  continue 
to  be  as  visible  as  heretofore,  till  that  enemy  shall  be 
destroyed. 

The  resurrection  of  the  bodies  of  men  will  be  a 
public  transaction,  attended  by  manifestations  of 
wondrous  power  and  grandeur,  rendering  their  bodies 
again  visible  ;  those  of  the  saints,  like  those  of  Moses 
and  Elias  at  the  transfiguration,  or  like  the  glorified 
body  of  Christ ;  and  those  of  the  wicked  such  as  shall 
be  suited  to  their  final  state  of  misery. 

The  reunion  of  the  souls  of  men  with  material 
bodies  will  require  for  them  a  dwelling-place  adapted 
to  that  condition  of  their  existence,  to  which  they 
can  have  appropriate  relations,  and  therefore  having 
visibility. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  193 

The  final  judgment  will  be  a  public  and  visible 
transaction,  in  which  the  creatures  to  be  judged  will 
undoubtedly  be  within  the  view  and  observation  of 
each  other. 

Now,  it  is  asked,  will  these  stupendous  events,  re- 
lating to  visible  scenes,  the  subjugation  of  enemies, 
the  resurrection  and  the  judgment,  be  accomplislied 
by  a  spiritual  and  invisible  influence  ?  Will  the  con- 
summation of  a  system,  which  at  earlier  periods  was 
characterized  by  visible  appearances  of  the  Mediator, 
be  perfected  by  his  spiritual  appearance  only  ?  Are 
the  Scriptures  which  announce  his  second  coming, 
his  coming  for  the  destruction  of  Antichrist,  imprison- 
ment of  Satan,  and  introduction  of  a  state  of  blessed- 
ness on  earth,  to  be  so  construed  as  to  import  only  a 
spiritual  coming  ? 

30.  Death,  the  dissolution  of  the  body,  was  one  of 
the  consequences  of  sin.  Death  is  therefore  one  of 
the  works,  one  of  the  results  of  the  working  of  Satan, 
which  is  to  be  destroyed  by  Christ.  He  is  to  van- 
quish Satan  in  this  respect  by  exhibiting  his  power 
over  this  result  of  the  apostacy,  by  raising  the  dead. 

By  death  and  its  attendant  circumstances,  the  ma- 
lignant nature  and  power  of  sin  and  Satan  are  visibly 
represented  to  all  intelligent  spectators,  to  angels  as 
well  as  to  men.  The  resurrection  also  is  a  public 
and  visible  transaction,  and  when  the  special  pur- 
pose of  it  as  a  conquest  over  Satan  is  considered,  and 
the  peculiarity  and  the  greatness  of  the  work  also,  and 
the  events  of  judgment  and  retribution  which  are  to 
follow,  in  which  the  Mediator  is  personally  to  preside, 
it  seems  reasonable  and  even  necessary  to  understand 


194  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

the  Sciipluie  stLitements  respecting  that  transaction, 
as  importing-  the  presence  and  visible  manifestation 
of  the  supremacy  and  power  of  Christ. 

31.  With  respect  to  those  future  events  which  are 
connected  with  the  destruction  of  Antichrist,  and 
are  to  precede  the  Millenium,  they  are  for  the  most 
part  as  set  forth  in  Scripture,  to  be  external  and  visi- 
ble. Immense  changes,  visible  and  conspicuous  to 
the  view  of  angels  and  men,  are  to  take  place  through- 
out the  world.  The  visible  institutions,  governments, 
and  idolatries  of  the  Romish  and  Pagan  world  are  to 
be  subverted.  The  civil  and  ecclesiastical,  and  out- 
wardly the  religious  state  of  the  whole  world,  Protestant, 
anti-christian,  and  Pagan,  are  to  be  changed.  The 
dead  in  part  are  to  be  raised.  A  new  and  unprece- 
dented scene  which  will  be  hailed  with  rapturous  joy 
by  all  holy  spectators  in  heaven  and  earth  is  to  ensue. 
A  greater  revolution  in  all  the  affairs  of  the  earth  than 
has  ever  yet  taken  place,  is  to  be  effected;  a  revolu- 
tion destined  not  merely  to  change  the  forms  of  op- 
pression, wickedness  and  misery,  not  to  substitute  for 
the  existing  a  new  and  untried  class  of  evils  ;  but  a 
revolution  by  which  all  evils,  and  the  instigator  and 
agents  of  evil  shall  be  expelled  and  driven  out  of  the 
earth.  Will  not  He  who  is  to  come  forth  in  his  ma- 
jesty as  a  conqueror  to  effect  this  revolution,  accom- 
plish it  by  manifestations  as  public  and  visible,  as  are 
the  objects  and  results  to  be  effected  by  his  interpo- 
sition ? 

32.  In  the  manifestations  made  by  the  Mediator, 
extreme    and    wonderful    contrasts    are    presented. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     -WORK.  195 

They  may  be  said  to  characterize  all  his  works,  whe- 
ther of  creation,  providence,  or  grace ;  by  which  is 
indicated  not  only  their  design  and  adaptation  for  the 
instruction  of  creatures,  who  by  beholding  extremes 
and  opposites  in  contrast  with  each  other,  are  iraj^ress- 
ed  and  instructed  more  eflectually  and  rapidly  than 
by  any  other  method  ;  but  also,  the  probability  that 
they  will  continue  to  characterize  his  work  hereafter. 

33.  Thus,  in  the  works  of  creation,  the  widest  ex- 
tremes which  our  minds  are  capable  of  conceiving,  are 
exhibited  and  contrasted,  as  well  in  the  natures  of 
things  as  in  their  vastness  or  the  opposite,  and  their 
relations  and  uses.  Eternity  and  time,  spirit  and 
matter,  light  and  darkness,  heat  and  cold,  motion  and 
rest,  attraction  and  repulsion,  and  innumerable  other 
like  instances,  are  presented  in  striking  contrast.  So 
in  the  moral  world,  all  intellectual  and  moral  quali- 
ties and  conditions,  are  exhibited  in  contrast  with  their 
opposites  ;  as  holiness,  with  sin  ;  wisdom,  with  folly  ; 
right,  witii  wrong  ;  truth,  with  falsehood;  happiness, 
with  mercy;  pleasure,  with  pain;  joy,  with  grief; 
hope,  with  despair  ;  blessedness,  with  misery  ;  and 
justice,  benevolence,  mercy,  obedience,  faith,  love, 
humility,  submission,  and  all  other  moral  qualities 
and  acts,  states  and  conditions. 

34.  The  works  of  providence  and  grace  are  a  com- 
plete mirror  of  contrasts,  as  obvious  in  all  their  variety, 
if  attentively  consideied — in  relation  to  the  visible 
world,  and  to  individuals,  families,  and  nations,  as 
growth  and  decay  in  plants,  health  and  sickness, 
prosperity  and  adversity,  peace  and  war,  liberty  and 
oppression,  life  and  death,  in  man. 


196  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

35.  "  The  infinity  of  workls,  and  the  narrow  spot 
of  earth  which  we  call  our  country  or  our  home  ;  the 
eternity  of  ages,  and  the  few  hours  of  life ;  the 
almighty  power  of  God,  and  human  nothingness  :  it 
is  impossible  to  think  of  these  in  succession,  without 
a  feeling  like  that  which  is  produced  by  the  sublimest 
eloquence.*' — Brown's  Philosophy,  vol.  2,  p.  38. 

36.  But  this  method  of  manifestation  and  instruc- 
tion is  most  strikingly  exemplified  in  the  character 
and  person  of  the  Mediator.  The  utmost  extremes 
are  combined  and  contrasted  in  him.  In  him  the 
divine  and  human  natures  are  united.  The  infinite 
and  finite  ;  eternity  and  time  ;  self-existence  and  de- 
pendence ;  supreme  authorit}'  and  obedience ;  the 
proprietorship  of  all  things  and  poverty;  infinite  glory 
and  the  lowest  humility  ;  infinite  holiness  and  justice 
and  infinite  grace  and  compassion  ;  infinite  majesty 
and  perfect  meekness  ;  absolute  sovereignty  and  per- 
fect resignation,  meet  in  him.  The  author  and  giver 
of  life  submits  to  death.  The  just  one  dies  for  the 
unjust.  He  who  exercises  and  vindicates  divine  jus- 
tice submits  to  injustice.  He  who  was  holy,  harm- 
less separate  from  sinners,  is  treated  as  a  sinner, 
suflfers  for  sinners.  He  who  was  infinitely  exalted 
above  all  creatures,  manifested  in  his  intercourse  with 
creatures  the  utmost  conceivable  condescension. — 
''Christ  is  the  creator  and  great  possessor  of  heaven 
and  earth  :  He  is  sovereign  Lord  of  all  :  He  rules  over 
the  whole  universe  and  doth  whatever  pleaseth  him  : 
His  knowledge  is  without  bound  :  His  wisdom  is  per- 
fect, and  what  none  can  circumvent :  His  power  is 
infinite,  and  none   can   resist   him  :  His   riches   are 


THE     MEDIATORIAL      WORK.  197 

immense  and  inexhaustible  :  His  majesty  is  infinitely 
awful,  and  yet  he  is  one  of  infinite  condescension. 
None  are  so  low  or  inferior,  but  Christ's  condescension 
is  sufficient  to  take  a  gracious  notice  of  them.  He 
condescends  not  onl}^  to  the  angels,  humbling  himself 
to  behold  the  things  that  are  done  in  Heaven,  but  he 
also  condescends  to  such  poor  creaUues  as  men;  and 
tliat  not  only  so  as  to  take  notice  of  princes  and  great 
men,  but  those  tliat  are  of  meanest  rank  and  degree, 
the  "  poor  of  the  world."  Such  as  are  commonly  des- 
pised by  their  fellow  creatures,  Christ  does  not  despise. 
Christ  condescends  to  take  notice  of  beggars,  and  of 
servants,  and  people  of  the  most  despised  nations. 
He  that  is  thus  high,  condescends  to  take  a  gracious 
notice  of  little  children.  "Suffer  little  children  to 
come  unto  me."  Yea,  which  is  much  more,  his  con- 
descension is  sufficient  to  take  a  gracious  notice  of  the 
most  unworthy,  sinful  creatures.,  those  that  have  infi- 
nite ill-deservings.  Yea,  so  great  is  his  condescension, 
that  it  is  not  only  sufficient  to  take  some  gracious  no- 
tice of  such  as  these,  but  sufficient  for  everything  that 
is  an  act  of  condescension.  It  is  great  enough  to  take 
their  nature  upon  him,  that  he  may  be  one  with 
tliem ;  yea,  it  is  great  enough  to  abase  himself  yet 
lower  for  them,  even  to  expose  himself  to  shame  and 
spitting  ;  yea,  to  yield  up  himself  to  an  ignominious 
death  for  them> 

"  Such  a  conjunction  of  such  infinite  highness  and 
low  condescension,  in  the  same  person,  is  admirable. 
We  see,  by  manifold  instances,  what  a  tendency  a 
high  station  has  in  men,  to  make  tJiem  to  be  of  a 
quite  contrary  disposition.  If  one  worm  be  a  little 
10 


198  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

exalted  above  another,  by  having-  more  dust,  or  a 
bigger  dunghill,  how  much  does  he  make  of  himself? 
What  a  distance  does  he  keep  from  those  that  are 
below  him  !  And  a  little  condescension  is  what  he 
expects  should  be  made  much  of,  and  greatly  ac- 
knowledged. Christ  condescends  to  wash  our  feet  5 
but  how  would  great  men,  (or  rather  the  bigger 
worms)  account  themselves  debased  by  acts  of  far 
less  condescension?" — F.i>\vab.ds^  Sermon  on  the  Ex- 
cellency of  Christ^ 

37.  Now  in  view  of  this  method  of  manifestation 
and  instruction,  these  diversified  and  wondrous  con- 
trasts, and  of  their  purpose  and  use,  it  is  obvious  to 
ask  whether  the  analogy  of  the  past,  and  the  object 
of  all  his  interpositions  will  not  require  a  personal 
and  visible  manifestation  on  his  part,  when  he  comes 
to  vindicate  his  ways,  to  fulfil  his  promises,  and  to 
be  glorified  in  his  saints,  and  admired  in  all  them 
that  believe  ;  to-  vanquish  his  and  their  adversary, 
and  to  destroy  all  the  visible  works  of  Satan,  and  put 
all  his  visible  enemies  under  his  feet  1  Can  the  sys- 
tem of  manifestation  by  contrasts  be  otherwise  com- 
plete 1  Can  the  majesty,  supremacy  and  glory  of 
Christ,  which,  as  the  opposites  of  condescension, 
humility  and  suffering,  have  hitherto  been  but  par- 
tially displayed,  be  otherwise  adequately  manifested 
to  the  view  of  the  dependant  universe  ?  Can  a  spi- 
ritual, invisible  influence,  on  that  occasion,  however 
it  might  illustrate  his  divinity,  be  supposed  adequate- 
ly to  manifest  his  character  as  God-man,  his  majesty, 
supremacy  and  glory  as  Mediator  l 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK-  199 

38.  It  was  the  office-work  of  Christ,  the  Mediator, 
to  manifest  the  Divine  perfections  by  rev^elations,  and 
visible  works  and  appearances.  It  is  the  high  calhng- 
and  office-work,  so  to  speak,  of  his  redeemed  people 
to  imitate  and  show  forth  his  praises,  in  the  exercise 
of  all  the  virtues  and  g-races  which  he  exhibited  ;  to 
be  like  him  in  mind  and  heart,  in  holiness,  meek- 
ness, and  benevolence  ;  like  him,  who  being  rich  for 
our  sakes  became  poor,  who  when  he  was  reviled 
reviled  not  again,  when  he  suffered  he  threatened 
not,  but  committed  himself  to  him  that  judgeth  right- 
eously. We  are  to  make  our  light  so  to  shine  before 
men,  that  they  may  see  our  good  works  and  glorify 
our  Father  who  is  in  heaven.  We  are  to  deny  our- 
selves, take  up  the  cross  and  follow  him.  He  was 
made  perfect  through  sufferings ;  and  we  are  to  glorify 
him  in  the  fires  of  temptation  and  suffering,  look- 
ing unto  him  alone  for  succor  and  protection,  while 
as  sojourners,  we  await  with  faith  and  patience  his 
coming  and  kingdom. 

39.  Let  it  be  considered,  then,  whether  the  preced- 
ing view  of  the  mediatorial  work,  and  of  the  analogies 
of  the  outv/ard  and  visible  manifestations  of  the  past, 
with  those  which  are  to  be  signalized  in  its  period  of 
triumph  and  final  consummation,  does  not,  independ- 
ently of  any  theory  of  interpretation,  strongly  favor 
and  commend  that  construction  of  the  prophecies 
which  teaches,  not  the  time  when,  so  as  to  be  de- 
termined beforehand  by  any  chronological  reckoning, 
but  the  reality  and  certainty  of  the  personal  advent 
of  the  Mediator  in  power  and  glory  with  his  holy 
angels,  to  take  possession  of  his  kingdom,  rule  and 


200  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

judge  his  enemies,  and  in  the  splendor  of  his  regal 
triumph  and  reign,  to  complete  his  manifestations? 
Whether  this  view  is  not  more  consonant  to  the  great- 
ness and  majesty  of  the  Son  of  God,  to  the  nature 
and  relations  of  the  work  which  he  undertook,  to  the 
victory  over  hostile  powers  which  he  achieves,  to  the 
redemption  and  reconciliation  he  accomplishes,  the 
inheritance  he  gains,  and  all  the  high  purposes  of  his 
mediation,  than  any  views  of  the  future  which  are  to 
be  obtained  from  any  system  of  interpretation  which 
teaches  only  a  spiritual  coming  1 

40.  Is  there  not,  in  the  nature  of  the  case,  com- 
prising as  it  does  a  complete  dispensation,  of  which 
the  scenes  and  events  in  its  progress,  are,  at  its  close, 
to  have  their  perfect  developement  and  illustration,  a 
strong  ground  of  probability,  that  the  ulterior  will 
differ  from  the  earlier  manifestations  only  by  their 
greater  publicity  and  splendor  1  Is  there  not  in  the 
fact,  that  the  prophecies  which  went  before  respecting 
the  incarnation,  ministry,  death  and  resurrection  of 
Christ,  were  fulfilled  to  the  letter,  just  ground  to  infer 
that  those  predictions  Avhich  relate  to  his  second 
coming  and  his  kingdom  are  to  be  literally  accom- 
plished 1  Is  there  not  in  the  leading  features  of  the 
present  dispensation ;  the  repudiation  of  the  Jews ; 
the  mission  of  the  Holy  Spirit  to  gather  out  of  the 
Gentile  nations  an  elected  people  ;  the  decline  and 
extinction  both  of  the  churches  planted  by  the  apos- 
tles and  of  others  of  later  date,  when  the  purpose 
of  that  mission  had  been  fulfilled  ;  the  rise  and  de- 
velopment of  the  man  of  Sin  and  mystery  of  iniquity; 
the  reign  of  the  Mahometan  imposture  over  the  coun- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  201 

tries  which  were  first  evangelized,  including  Palestine 
and  the  Holy  City  ;  the  ever  stinted  and  partial,  and 
often  scarcely  tolerated  influence  of  the  Gospel  over 
the  governments  and  peoples  nominally  termed 
Christian;  the  continued  reign  of  darkness,  delusion, 
idolatry  and  misery  over  the  general  population  of 
the  whole  world  ;  the  divisions,  heresies  and  defec- 
tions which  have  blighted  every  portion  even  of  the 
Protestant  church  ;  the  little  succe-s  and  rapid  de- 
cline of  the  best  efforts,  to  extend  the  sway  of  the 
Gospel  or  arrest  the  tide  of  evil,  in  which  the  agency 
of  men,  even  the  wisest  and  best  men,  has  been 
conspicuous  ;  the  early  corruption  and  decay  of  the 
purest  institutions,  under  the  influence  and  manage- 
ment of  man  ;  the  manifest  inadequacy  of  the  press, 
of  political  and  religious  liberty,  knowledge,  science, 
art,  and  all  means,  facilities  and  helps,  to  give  effi- 
cacy to  the  Gospel,  or  preserve  its  sway  over  the 
hearts  and  lives  of  men,  or  do  more  than  exhibit 
man's  insufficiency,  and  show  that  the  excellence  of 
the  power  is  all  of  God :  in  short,  is  there  not  in  every 
feature  of  this  dispensation,  in  tlie  state  of  the  church 
and  of  the  world  since  the  power  of  Christ  ceased  to 
be  miraculously  interposed  ;  the  fact,  that  since  that 
period  the  real,  in  distinction  from  the  nominal  and 
counterfeit  church,  has  barely  been  preserved,  and 
that  for  the  most  part  in  the  seclusion  and  obscurity 
of  the  wilderness  sliielded  from  the  view  and  reach 
of  the  destroyer ;  is  there  not  in  all  the  aspects  and 
lessons  of  the  past,  and  in  the  present  state  and  pro- 
spects of  the  church  and  the  world,  abundant  ground 
to  conclude,  that  to  man  has  not  been  assigned  the 
task  of  subverting  the  thrones  of  darkness,  destroying 


202  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

the  institutions  of  idolatry,  imposture  and  wickedness, 
confining  the  arch  leader,  and  vanquishing  the  hosts 
and  powers  of  rebellion  :  that  such  conquest  and  vic- 
tory belong  to  Him  alone  who  is  King  of  kings,  to 
whom  all  power  is  given,  who  for  the  joy  that  was 
set  before  him  endured  the  cross,  and  to  whom  alone 
in  his  victory  and  triumph  will  be  ascribed  the  glory; 
and  that  a  new  and  different  scene  is  to  be  introduced, 
the  dispensation  of  the  fullness  of  times,  in  which  the 
power  of  Satan  is  to  be  utterly  crushed,  his  evil  in- 
fluence suspended,  and  himself  confined;  the  spell 
and  charm  of  delusion  dissipated,  and  the  darkness  of 
infidelity  and  error  dispersed  by  the  splendor  of  the 
Sun  of  Righteousness  ? 

41.  That  the  times  of  the  Gentiles  are  fast  drawing 
to  a  close,  and  the  commencement  of  a  new  dispen- 
sation not  far  distant,  is  supposed  to  be  indicated  by 
what  is  now  passing  in  Protestant  Christendom,  in  the 
empire  of  papal  domination,  and  in  different  parts  of 
the  pagan  world — and  especially  by  the  workings  of 
Satan  in  these  two  latter  fields  with  all  power  and 
lying  wonders,  and  all  deceivableness  of  unrighteous- 
ness in  them  who  believe  not  the  truth,  but  have 
pleasure  in  unrighteousness. 

42.  The  separation  of  the  sound  from  the  unsound 
in  several  of  the  leading  Protestant  churches  within  a 
brief  period,  and  the  indications  of  a  probable  division 
in  the  ranks  of  episcopacy,  are  characterized  by 
nothing  more  strikingly,  than  on  the  one  part  by  an 
increased  reverence  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  as  God- 
Man,  the  only  Mediator,  Prophet,  Priest  and  King  of 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  203 

his  church,  increased  reliance  on  his  atonement  and 
intercession,  and  increased  attachment  to  those  doc- 
trines of  his  word,  which  give  all  glory  and  praise  to 
him,  and  are  most  humbling  to  man;  and  on  the  other 
part  by  derogatory  views  of  Him  and  his  work,  exalted 
views  of  man,  the  rapid  growth  of  popish  influence, 
and  the  prevalence  of  delusive  and  atheistical  theories 
and  schemes  for  abolishing  the  institutions,  customs 
and  evils  by  which  the  human  race  is  afflicted  and  op- 
pressed, remodelling  society,  and  realizing  a  paradise 
of  ideal  perfectibility,  without  government.  Sabbath 
or  church.  These  atheistical,  man-exalting  systems, 
if  not  manifestly  due  to  the  immediate  instigation  of 
Satan,  must  be  acknowledged  to  be  auxiliary  to  his 
purposes,  and  altogether  in  harmony  with  them.  And 
when  the  Mediator  in  his  providence  rebukes  and 
defeats  them,  he  counteracts  the  work  of  Satan. 

43.  These  events  are  signally  in  contrast  with  the 
hopes  and  expectations  which  for  a  length  of  time  have 
been  cherished,  throughout  Protestant  Christendom, 
of  a  state  of  millennial  blessedness  to  be  gradually 
but  speedily  brought  about  by  the  use  of  existing  and 
ordinary  means. 

44.  The  separations  of  churches,  and  the  new 
schemes  of  human  device  are  strongl}^  marked  by  new 
and  wide  spread  exhibitions  of  tire  spirit  of  popish 
delusion  and  imposture  on  the  one  hand  ;  and  on  the 
other  by  a  clearer  discernment  of  the  working  of  Satan 
in  the  Romish  and  all  the  subordinate  man-exalting 
systems  of  error.     In  place  of  a  steady  and  growing 


204  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

progress  of  Scriptural  truth  and  influence,  supplanting- 
atheism,  falsehood  and  superstition,  and  undermining 
especially  the  strong-  holds  of  Romanism,  new  sig-ns 
of  life  and  vigor  in  the  beast,  and  the  false  prophet, 
are  every  where  seen.  The  Popish  power  from  being 
long  in  a  comparatively  dormant  state,  has  become 
active  and  aggressive.  Not  only  throughout  nominal 
Christendom,  but  in  every  part  of  the  pagan  world  its 
influences  and  its  emissaries  are  at  work.  Wherever 
Protestant  missions  have  been  sent,  antagonist  Popish 
missions  have  followed.  The  spirit  of  Popery,  and  to 
a  large  extent,  its  forms  of  superstition  and  idolatry, 
are  regaining  their  sway  over  the  kingdoms  and  terri- 
tories of  the  ten  horned  beast,  including  England,  and 
all  the  signals  of  progress  and  success  are  exhibited 
with  boldness  and  confidence. 

45.  These  events,  so  contrary  to  the  supposed  spirit 
of  the  age,  as  characterized  by  the  distribution  of  the 
Scriptures,  the  propagation  of  the  Gospel  by  missions, 
the  progress  of  knowledge  and  science,  the  discon- 
tinuance of  war  and  culture  of  the  arts  of  peace,  the 
amelioration  of  laws  and  growth  of  temperance,  hu- 
manity and  industrial  pursuits,  cannot  but  be  regarded 
as  portentous  and  alarming. 

46.  Is  it  too  much  to  say  that  since  the  revival  of 
Missionary  eflforts  about  the  commencement  of  the 
present  century,  there  has  been  a  great  falling  oflT  in 
regard  to  the  true  and  only  Scriptural  grounds  of  con- 
fidence of  success  in  such  efforts  ?  Have  not  mere 
human  benevolence  and  sympathy,  human  agency, 
instrumentality  and  device,  usurped  the  place  of  that 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  205 

faiih,  and  that  reliance  upon  the  Mediator  and  the 
Holy  Spirit,  which  alone  warrant  any  confidence  of 
real,  or  to  any  great  extent  even  of  seeming"  success  ? 
Are  not  these  efforts,  like  mere  secular  undertakings, 
largely  characterized  as  depending  simply  upon  man  1 
Is  not  the  human  sympathy  and  pecuniary  benevo- 
lence which  they  challenge  and  enlist,  tlieir  chief 
element,  that  which  they  exhibit  and  boast  as  most 
essential?  Do  they  not  proceed  upon  most  inade- 
quate views  of  the  actual  state  and  character  of  man 
as  a  fallen  being,  and  of  the  work  of  redemption  and 
mediation,  through  which  alone  there  is  deliverance 
from  sin  and  from  the  power  of  Satan  ?*  Do  they 
not  as  a  whole  and  in  their  general  aspect,  proceed 
as  if  upon  the  assumption,  that  the  object  to  be  accom- 
plished required  only  pecuniary  means  and  human 
agency,  influence  and  zeal  ?  Do  they  not,  in  a  great 
measure  at  least,  proceed  regardless  of  the  nature  and 
ends  of  the  present  dispensation,  unmindful  of  the 
nature  and  scope  of  the  mediatorial  work,  and  of  the 
sovereignty,  supremacy  and  glory  of  the  Mediator  1 
Do  they  not  proceed  much  as  they  would  if  men  were 
not  in  a  state  of  rebellion  against  God,  but  only  in  a 
state  of  ignorance,  degeneracy  and  depression;  and 
as  if  there  were  no  mali  o-nant  powerful  adversary  to 


*  "  There  are  two  things  especially  that  make  modern  fash- 
ionable divines  look  on  doctrines  of  revealed  religion,  of  little  import- 
ance. One  is  their  mistake  about  the  conditions  of  salvation ; 
another  is,  their  mistake  about  the  nature  of  true  virtue,  placing  it 
chiefly,  and  most  essentially,  in  benevolence  to  men,  and  so  little  in 
respect  to  God  and  Christ." — President  Edwards,  on  Mysteries  of 
Scripture,  vol.  ii.,  §  18. 

10* 


206  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

be  overcome'?  Do  they  not  seem  to  assume  that  the 
idolatrous  nations,  which,  by  the  righteous  judgment 
of  God  have  been  so  long  left  under  the  influence  and 
bondage  of  Satan,  were  in  respect  to  the  gospel  and 
the  present  dispensation  on  the  same  footing  with 
Protestant  communities,  where  there  are  children  of 
the  covenant  and  of  the  promise  made  to  Abraham, 
and  were  to  be  delivered  and  their  cruel  deceiver  and 
tyrant  to  be  overcome  and  destroyed  by  human  instru- 
mentality and  means  1 

47.  These  questions  proceed  not  from  any  disposi- 
tion to  undervalue  the  character,  or  disparage  the 
motives  of  holy  and  devoted  men,  who  are  embarked 
in  the  cause  of  missions,  nor  from  any  want  of  zeal 
for  the  object  which  they  have  in  view  ;  but  from 
what  is  believed  to  be  due  to  Him  who  is  Head  over 
all  things  to  the  Church,  and  who  claims  and  will 
have  the  glory  of  being  the  destroyer  of  his  and  her 
enemies,  vanquishing  Satan,  and  subverting  the 
thrones  of  darkness.  Instead  of  enlarging  upon  the 
subject,  the  following  passage  from  the  Princeton  Re- 
view is  subjoined,  including  an  extract  from  a  sermon 
preached  by  Rev.  Francis  Goode,  before  the  Church 
Missionary  Society  in  Britain. 

48.  Extracts  from  the  Review  of  "  Mammon  and 
Anti-Mammon,^''  in  the  Biblical  Repertory  and 
Princeton  Review,  for  April,  1839. 

The  Reviewers  quote  a  portion  of  the  unseriptural 
sentiments  advanced  by  the  author  of  "Mammon,'^ 
as  samples  of  the  errors  which  were  becoming  widely 
prevalent;  such  as,  <' that  in  the  creation  of  man. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  207 

God  designed  that  he  should  fabricate  his  own  happi- 
ness— that  sin  frustrated  the  Divine  intention,  de- 
stroyed it  even  in  its  type  and  model — that  by  the 
Gospel,  God  endeavors  to  regain  what  he  had  lost  by 
the  fall — that  by  a  spirit  of  worldly  gain,  an  enter- 
prise of  mercy  in  which  God  had  embarked  his  high- 
est glory,  and  which  involved  the  happiness  of  the 
world,  was  arrested  and  lost — that  he  is  yearning  for 
the  happiness  of  the  perishing  world  ;  but  such  is  his 
Divine  plan,  that  he  has  only  the  instrumentality  of 
his  Church  to  work  by,  and  that  is  so  steeped  in  the 
spirit  of  selfishness,  that  His  grace  is  held  under  re- 
straint— that  self-love  in  man,  is  the  principle  which 
impels  him,  and  is  not  only  consistent  with  piety,  but 
is  the  stock  on  which  all  piety  in  lapsed  man  is 
g-rafted;  that  piety  is  only  the  principle  of  self-love, 
carried  out  in  the  right  direction,  and  seeking  its  Su- 
preme happiness  in  God.  That  it  is  the  act  or  habit 
of  a  man  who  so  loves  himself,  as  to  give  himself  to 
God  ;  that  selfishness  is  fallen  self-love  ;  that  sin  is 
evil  and  ruinous  not  because  it  is  rebellion  against 
God,  but  because  it  is  committed  against  the  sinner 
himself  and  is  at  war  with  his  happiness;  that  the 
great  want  of  fallen  humanity  is  a  specific  against 
selfishness,  the  epidemic  disease  of  our  nature  ;  that 
it  is  the  glory  of  the  Gospel  that  it  was  calculated  and 
arranged  on  the  principle  of  restoring  to  the  world  the 
lost  principle  of  benevolence  ;  that  the  character  of 
Christ  was  formed  on  the  principle  of  a  laborious  en- 
deavor to  recall^he  departed  spirit  of  benevolence, 
and  that  in  all  he  did,  he  thought  of  the  world  ;  that 
he  instituted  a  Church  for  the  express  purpose  of  era- 
ploying  it  for  the  benefit  of  the  world  ;  that  he  consti- 


208  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

tuted  the  church,  guardians  of  the  most  sacred 
rights  in  the  universe,  trustees  for  the  world,  execu- 
tors of  the  happiness  he  had  bequeathed  to  man; 
that  no  elements  essential  to  success  have  been  left 
out  of  its  arrangements  ;  that  all  those  elements  have 
always  been  in  the  possession  of  the  Church  ;  that 
the  Gospel  has  been  threatened,  age  after  age,  with 
failure,  owing  entirely  to  the  selfishness  of  the  church  ; 
that  he  consecrated  the  church  to  the  high  office 
of  converting  the  world  ;  that  the  church  is  now  has- 
tening to  atone  for  the  past,  by  instituting  one  society 
after  another ;  and  that  it  is  not  in  accordance  with 
the  declarations  of  Scripture,  to  ascribe  the  present 
condition  of  the  heathen  to  the  divine  sovereignty  !" 

In  relation  to  these  and  other  extracts  of  like  pur- 
port, the  Reviewers  in  the  course  of  their  comments, 
say,  "  An  erroneous  conception  of  the  nature  and 
design  of  the  church,  we  consider  the  leading  error  of 
this  author  and  of  that  system  of  theology  which  he 
advocates,  and  which  has  gone  far  in  England  as  it 
has  in  this  country  to  dethrone  Christ,  and  to  lead 
men  to  question  whether  there  be  any  Holy  Ghost." 
And  again  :  "  Such  is  the  doctrine  which  is  becoming 
current  in  certain  portions  of  the  church,  which  with 
a  sickly  affectation  of  piety,  rather  than  allow  the 
condemnation  and  present  outcast  condition  of  the 
heathen  to  be  the  manifestation  of  divine  anger,  and 
of  the  '  righteous  judgment'  of  God,  strips  God  of  all 
that  constitutes  him  supreme,  infinite  and  glorious, 
as  the  sovereign  of  the  Universe."  And  finally : 
"  As  we  regard  this  subject  of  vital  importance,  and 
one  which  has  not  been  duly  considered,  we  would 
quote  the  language  of  the  Rev.  Francis  Goode,  the 


THE      MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  209 

author  of 'The  Better  Covenant,'  in  his  sermon  be- 
fore the  Church  Missionary  Society,  in  April  last  :" 
viz — 

49.  "  There  is  yet  one  topic  left  with  which  I  will 
conclude  :  a  topic  intimately  connected  with  Mission- 
ary enterprize,  and  too  important,  in  every  way,  to 
be  omitted  ;  though,  to  some  of  you  perhaps,  it  may 
seem,  by  what  shall  be  said,  rather  to  damp  your 
energies  in  this  holy  cause.  I  mean  our  legitimate 
expectations  :  the  prospects  of  success  which  the 
word  of  God  authorizes  Christians  to  expect  in  this 
work  and  labor  of  love. 

''  I  am  aware  that  there  are  those,  who  look  for 
the  universal  establishment  of  the  Gospel  in  the  earth, 
the  promised  enlargement  and  triumph  of  the  church 
in  the  latter  day,  as  the  result  of  efforts,  such  as  this 
and  other  Societies  are  making  for  the  diffusion  of  the 
light  of  life.  By  these  they  trust  that  the  present 
twilight  of  Christian  principle  will,  gradually  and  im- 
perceptibly, increase  into  the  brightness  of  the  day 
of  glory  and  universal  blessedness,  of  which  all  pro- 
phecy is  full.  My  brethren,  I  should  be  extremely 
sorry,  on  this  interesting  occasion,  unnecessarily  to 
do  violence  to  the  prejudices  of  any  ;  but  it  is  due  to 
truth  to  confess,  that  I  have  no  such  expectations.  I 
am  deeply  convinced,  that  they  are  grounded  on  en- 
tirely mistaken  views  of  the  character  of  the  present 
Gentile  dispensation.  The  times  of  the  Gentiles, 
(Luke  xxi.  24,)  which  are  now  fast  running  out, 
are  times  (as  I  conceive)  in  which  God  (according  to 
that  remarkable,  but  little  heeded  testimony  of  St. 
James)  is  visiting  the  Gentiles,  to  take  out  of  them  a 


210  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

people  unto  his  name.  (Acts  xv.  14.)  They  are 
times,  therefore,  of  an  election,  and  of  an  election 
only,  so  long  as  they  last ;  and  the  most  rapid  and 
superficial  glance  at  the  history  of  the  church, 
and  especially  of  Christian  missions,  is  sufficient  to 
show,  that  hitherto,  at  least,  such  has  been  the  char- 
acter of  the  dispensation  throughout  the  1800  years, 
during  which  it  has  continued.  No  where  has  Chris- 
tianity been  permanent  in  anything  like  its  original 
purity.  The  light  is  gone  out,  which  once  shone  so 
bright  in  the  seven  churches  of  Asia.  The  same  has 
been  the  case  with  Carthage  and  its  neighborhood — 
Christian  Egypt — Christian  Persia — where  are  ihey? 
These  countries  are  Christian  no  longer.  Christianity 
has  visited  place  after  place,  not  retaining  its  con- 
quests ;  but  remaining,  perhaps  for  a  few  centuries, 
at  most,  it  has  taken  out  a  people  and  been  content. 
No  where  has  there  been  an  instance  of  a  truly  right- 
eous nation  ;  of  Christianity  sanctifying  the  great 
mass  of  a  population  ;  of  a  people  generally  and  truly 
righteous  ;  acknowledging  Christ  as  king,  and  order- 
ing themselves  by  his  laws.  Such  has  been  our  ex- 
perience hitherto,  and  such  we  believe  it  will  be, 
''till  the  times  of  the  Gentiles  be  fulfilled."  Then, 
and  not  before,  the  present  dispensation  will  be  suc- 
ceeded by  a  dispensation  of  glory,  introduced  by  the 
King  himself,  whose  name  is  Jehovah  our  righteous- 
ness. (Jer.  xxiii.  6.)  Then  shall  be  seen  in  the 
restored  Jewish  nation  the  first  example  of  a  truly 
righteous  nation  ;  as  it  is  foretold  of  them,  th)'  people 
shall  be  all  righteous  ;  they  shall  inherit  the  land  for 
ever.  (Isa.  Ix.  21.)  And  then  shall  all  those  glorious 
predictions  receive  their  literal  and  full  accomplish- 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  211 

ment,  which  describe  the  reign  of  holiness  and  hap- 
piness throug-hout  the  earth.  The  earth  shall  be 
filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of  the  Lord, 
as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.  (Habuk.  ii.  14.)  From 
the  rising  of  the  sun  even  unto  the  going  down  of 
the  same,  my  name,  (saith  Jehovah)  shall  be  great 
among  the  Gentiles  ;  and,  in  every  place,  incense 
shall  be  offered  unto  my  name,  and  a  pure  offering. 
(Mai.  i.  11.) 

"Thus  the  triumph,  the  full  establishment  of  his 
gospel  in  the  earth,  is  reserved  to  Jesus  himself:  the 
Light  of  the  world — the  Sun  of  righteousness.  And  I 
feel  that  these  sober  and  chastened  views  of  the  pro- 
bable result  of  missionary  exertion,  in  the  present 
dispensation,  are  of  the  utmost  importance,  if  we 
would  escape  discouragement,  and  mortification,  at 
the  supposed  faikne  of  legitimate  hopes,  in  the  conti- 
nued prevalence  of  ungodliness,  both  at  home  and 
abroad.  A  painful  and  very  injurious  reaction  must 
be  the  consequence  of  extravagant  and  unscriptural 
expectation,  as  if  the  universal  triumph  of  the  Gospel 
were  to  be  achieved  by  any  instrumentality,  such  as 
is  now  employed.  Beloved,  ye  are  indeed  the  light 
of  the  world ;  but  mistake  not  the  character  in  which 
ye  shine.  Ye  are  the  candle  of  the  Lord  in  the  midst 
of  prevailing  darkness.  Ye  may,  ye  shall  illuminate 
the  night;  but  ye  may  not  utterly  dispel  and  annihi- 
late it.  It  is  Jesus  himself,  who  is  the  sun.  It  is  his 
manifestation,  which  shall  make  that  day  of  glory,  to 
which  all  prophecy  directs  our  longing  gaze.  But  in 
the  mean  time,  remember  your  privilege  is  not  small. 
It  is  the  very  same  with  that  of  apostles  themselves, 
and  of  prophets,  and  all  the  cloud  of  witnesses  who 


212  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

preceded  them;  by  all  means  to  save  some,  (1  Cor. 
xiv.  22) :  to  shine  for  Christ  amidst  sarronnding-  gloom  ; 
yes,  and  by  your  blessed  shining,  to  gather  out  to 
Christ,  in  successive  generations,  a  multitude  which 
no  man  can  number,  out  of  every  kindred,  and  tongue, 
and  people,  and  nation,  (Rev.  vii.  9)  .  Let  your  light 
then  so  shine  before  men,  that  they  may  see  your 
good  works,  and  glorify  j^our  father  which  is  in  heaven. 
Be  ye  steadfast,  unmoveable,  always  abounding  in 
the  work  of  the  lord,  for  as  much  as  ye  know  that 
your  labor  is  not  in  vain  in  the  Lord."  Amen.  (1 
Cor.  XV.  58.) 


50.  The  following  are  some  of  the  passages  in 
which  his  future  personal  advent  is  expressly  declared 
or  plainly  assumed;  and  which  cannot  be  interpreted 
as  meaning  only  a  spiritual  or  invisible  coming. 

"This  same  Jesus  which  is  taken  up  from  you  into 
heaven,  shall  so  come  in  like  manner  as  ye  have  seen 
him  go  into  heaven." — Acts  i.  11. 

"Behold  he  cometli  with  clouds  and  every  eye  shall 
see  him  and  they  also  which  pierced  him ;  and  all 
kindreds  of  the  earth  shall  wail  because  of  him." — 
Rev.  i.  7. 

"  We  which  are  alive  and  remain  unto  the  coming 
of  the  Lord,  shall  not  prevent  them  which  are  asleep ; 
for  the  Lord  himself  shall  descend  from  heaven  with 
a  shout,"  &c. — 1  Thes.  iv.  15,  16. 

"When  the  Lord  Jesus  shall  be  revealed  from 
heaven  with  his  mighty  angels,  in  flaming  fire,  taking 
vengeance  on  them  that  know  not  God,  and  that 
obey  not  the  Gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ." — 2 
Thes.  i.  7,  8. 


THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK.  213 

"The  Son  of  Man  shall  come  in  the  glory  of  his 
Father  with  the  his  angels." — Matt.  xvi.  27.. 

"As  the  lightning  cometh  out  of  the  east,  and 
shineth  even  unto  the  west;  so  shall  also  the  coming 
of  the  Son  of  Man  be."— Ibid.  xxiv.  27. 

"  For  as  in  the  days  that  were  before  the  flood,  they 
were  eating,  &c.,  so  shall  also  the  coming  of  the  Son 
of  Man  be."— Ibid.  24. 

"Ye  know  neither  the  day  nor  the  hour  wherein 
the  Son  of  Man  cometh. — Ibid.  24. 

"When  the  Son  of  Man  shall  come  in  his  glory 
and  all  the  holy  angels  with  him." — Ibid. 

"  Then  shall  appear  the  sign  of  the  Son  of  man 
in  heaven  ;  and  then  shall  all  the  iribes  of  the  earth 
mourn,  and  they  shall  see  the  Son  of  man  coming  in 
the  clouds  of  heaven,  with  power  and  great  glory." 
Ibid.  xxiv.  30. 

"  When  Christ  who  is  our  life  shall  appear,  then 
shall  ye  also  appear  with  him  in  glory."     Col.  iii.  4. 

"  Christ  was  once  offered  to  bear  the  sins  of  many : 
and  to  them  that  look  for  him  shall  he  appear  the 
second  time  without  sin  unto  salvation."     Heb.  ix.  28. 

"  When  the  chief  Shepherd  shall  appear,  ye  shall 
receive  a  crown  of  glory  that  fadeth  not  away." 
1  Pet.  v.  4. 

"  Abide  in  him  ;  that  when  he  shall  appear  we 
may  have  confidence,  and  not  be  ashamed  before  him 
at  his  coming."     1  John  ii.  28. 

"  We  know  that  when  he  shall  appear  we  shall 
be  like  him,  for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is."  Ibid, 
iii.  2. 


"  I  give  thee  charge — that  thou  keep  this  com- 


214  THE     MEDIATORIAL     WORK. 

mandment — until  the  appearing  of  our  Lord  Jesus 
Christ."     1  Tim.  vi.  14. 

"  Looking  for  that  blessed  hope,  and  the  glorious 
appearing  of  the  great  God  and  [even]  our  Saviour 
Jesus  Christ ;  who  gave  himself  for  us."     Titus  i.  13. 

"  That  the  trial  of  your  faith — might  be  found  unto 
praise  and  honor  and  glory  at  the  appearing  of  Jesus 
Christ."     1  Pet.  i.  7. 

"  Judge  nothing  before  the  time,  until  the  Lord 
come,  who  both  will  bring  to  light  the  hidden  things 
of  darkness,  and  will  make  manifest  the  counsels  of 
the  hearts,"  &c.     1  Cor.  iv.  5. 

"As  often  as  ye  eat  this  bread  and  drink  this  cup, 
ye  do  show  the  Lord's  death  till  he  come."  Ibid, 
xi.  26. 

*'That  which  ye  have  already,  hold  fast  till  I  come." 
Rev.  ii.  25. 

"  Ye  come  behind  in  no  gift ;  waiting  for  the  coming 
of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ."     1  Cor.  i.  7. 


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